Noisy Reverence

September 13, 2009 Midland, MI

I love the familiarity of attending church. In whatever city or country it may be, there are some things that always seem the same. The young men in white shirts and ties at the front of the chapel before the meeting trying to determine who is there and if they will need to ask more people to help with the sacrament. A group of young women at the back of the chapel chatting together about whatever young women chat and giggle about. An older sister moving in and out of the pews handing out ward newsletters to those who had arrived early and taken their seats. A mother entering the chapel followed by two young girls in dresses with bows in their hair, finding their way to a place on the back row. Individuals greeting each other as they find their way to an empty bench, people genuinely happy to see each other and to be together.

Somehow I want to believe that heaven will be more about greeting and chatting and finding joy in our personal interactions, than about sitting quietly listening to heavenly prelude. Yes, there is a time for quiet reverence and introspection, and the chapel before church may be one of them, but isn't there also something holy in a people whose hearts are intertwined, who share their lives with each other, who inquire about and look after each other as God would if He were here? Even if there is a bit of noise arising from their joy at meeting together again? I think God will tolerate a little noisy reverence among his children.