The circle of life
Nov. 2nd, 2008 10:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stephbgI was pleased today to attend the christening of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
emma_in_oz's special little one Pearl. Thank you Em for inviting me to be a small part of this important event in your family's life.
Unfortunately I was a little taken aback by the length of the service which chewed into precious people-time afterwards, and so missed out on the second stage "morning tea" a.k.a. lunch.
While lengthy, I found the service comfortable and relaxed, not at all like my other recent religous experiences, including a Baptist service. There was none of the HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY confidence of purpose that's put me off in other places. I found the odd human and technological stumble reassuring.
The Anglican words of the service were much simpler than the Catholic version jammed in behind my eyeballs, and while as a Plain English supporter I appreciated the style, there seemed to be a missing element of poetry in places. I'm happy to interpret that as a kind of personal "Valley of the Uncanny" reaction: the words were similar, but not quite right.
Part of my purpose in going to this event was to be reminded of the renewal of life, and though I didn't get much time to talk to Em, I think she said she'd hoped something similar for me. With the exception of my brief time with Em at the end it didn't quite work out that way. With the focus for the day on parenting and the love between parents and children, I could only be reminded of the suffering of my parents at the loss of their son. The phrase "brothers and sisters" cuts me to the heart. Church services are full of such reminders of family and death.
I have been doing a good job of regathering my life. I have gone outside, exercised, eaten properly, talked, laughed, and enjoyed memories without tears. I've cleaned, shopped, and weeded. But many and unexpected things make me flinch, and will do so for a while yet. I'd especially like to avoid churches for a while. Next stop in early December is my cousin's wedding, in a potentially hand waving charismatic HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY (and much bigger) congregation. But that will be different.
Every day is different. I just don't know how, but that's life, isn't it? Best be on with it then.
emma_in_oz's special little one Pearl. Thank you Em for inviting me to be a small part of this important event in your family's life.Unfortunately I was a little taken aback by the length of the service which chewed into precious people-time afterwards, and so missed out on the second stage "morning tea" a.k.a. lunch.
While lengthy, I found the service comfortable and relaxed, not at all like my other recent religous experiences, including a Baptist service. There was none of the HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY confidence of purpose that's put me off in other places. I found the odd human and technological stumble reassuring.
The Anglican words of the service were much simpler than the Catholic version jammed in behind my eyeballs, and while as a Plain English supporter I appreciated the style, there seemed to be a missing element of poetry in places. I'm happy to interpret that as a kind of personal "Valley of the Uncanny" reaction: the words were similar, but not quite right.
Part of my purpose in going to this event was to be reminded of the renewal of life, and though I didn't get much time to talk to Em, I think she said she'd hoped something similar for me. With the exception of my brief time with Em at the end it didn't quite work out that way. With the focus for the day on parenting and the love between parents and children, I could only be reminded of the suffering of my parents at the loss of their son. The phrase "brothers and sisters" cuts me to the heart. Church services are full of such reminders of family and death.
I have been doing a good job of regathering my life. I have gone outside, exercised, eaten properly, talked, laughed, and enjoyed memories without tears. I've cleaned, shopped, and weeded. But many and unexpected things make me flinch, and will do so for a while yet. I'd especially like to avoid churches for a while. Next stop in early December is my cousin's wedding, in a potentially hand waving charismatic HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY (and much bigger) congregation. But that will be different.
Every day is different. I just don't know how, but that's life, isn't it? Best be on with it then.
