Log #59 (Going Home)

I made it out to church today!!!

It doesn't happen often, but I consider it a blessing to be there even when the benches are so dang hard. It would be so cool if the seating could be more comfortable so I could go and enjoy it more. Sitting on those scarcely padded benches isn't much of a step above sitting on a rock. When my wife and I go on a date night to eat somewhere I take my cushions with me--take pain medication too--and I can handle sitting at most restaurants for about an hour. I take my cushions with me to church and it starts getting really painful after 15 minutes.

Even with that pain, it is a peaceful retreat for me to get away from my daily problems and re-center myself. Our services usually last for three hours, but I only stay for the first so I can take sacrament. If I had a good wheel chair that was any more comfortable than the church benches, I would stay for the whole thing.

Religion is the core of my life and up until these ailments got the most of me, I was very active in my church in many ways. I had been in leadership positions among other things, but what I enjoyed most was teaching. The age of the students I had the privilege of teaching didn't matter as much as being able to do something for them and when I saw understanding in their eyes I felt the greatest sense of accomplishments; more than my professional life. Any time I could serve other people in any way I felt a great joy that only comes when you give something to someone without expecting anything in return.

As you may have guessed, when that part of my life went away so did a lot of my purpose in life. So when I get one hour at church it's like being home again. Some day, I'll find the right balance of activity and medication that will allow me to go back more often. Maybe even enough for me to teach again. There are only a few things in life that I don't want to be/can't be without; my family and my religion. If, for some reason unknown to me, I'm not able to go back to the level I would like, I'll have to take it on faith that there is a wise purpose behind it.

PLEASE MAKE COMMENTS!!!! If you have similar experiences then please write them here. It may help someone else when you write your point of view. ANY comment, question, or suggestion is appreciated!!!