Prayer meetings - my reply

P.S Sorry for taking so long to reply... couldn't finish it in time for the exams.

Don't fall asleep reading this k.

This is a reply to cute little angel

Why are you sulking for? You did a great job gal.

Remember when we first came, there were only 4 of us plus Patrick for cell group. I mean, from what I see, attendance that day was already good; and when had the numbers ever been important?

No ideas are ever too ideal. Your desire of having a group, that all our catholic brethrens may have a sense of belonging, in closer communion is indeed a great one. In fact that was the reason why our seniors (of which we don’t even know them) started this anyway.

You must take this into account. Even though we are working with our brothers and sisters in Christ, or for anybody for that matter, we are still dealing with human beings… people with real needs and emotions which need to be addressed or tolerated. We must always make provisions for their ‘errors’ for which they may hurt us (including fake excuses of being sick). It is part and parcel of being human; receiving bouts of insensitive attitudes, as if they care nothing about being a family.

Indeed, I feel your frustration of having indulged in great efforts to smsing and persuading friends to come, only to get a lukewarm response or no response at all. Yes, you did it for a good reason. Yes, that was what God would have wanted for us: to live as a family. But nobody seemed to want share the same pursuit… and there goes some people like me complaining about his own discomforts and disabilities; it must be really hard on you.

But… just look at Mic; he is surrounded by ‘tempeh’ 24 hours a day and almost speak like one already. Although he is cool about it, I mean these people can be good friends as well, but he does feel lonely at times; and so is Jac. They have limited avenues from real Malaysian care and contact. They will be ever ready to establish that contact (in Christ some more).

And how about Jrmy; God gave him a new lease of life. The semangat joy in that fellow for fellowship… fuh.

Hwee Ming girlfriend (oops I forgot her name); our two junior Sheela and Kristin who came even though exams are round the corner; our steady Patrick, still continuing to persist even after many setbacks in life.

If there were no cell, if there were no one to semangatly sms these people, there will not be many chances of meeting or getting to know them… merely hi and bye friends? Mya will not get a chance to provide Mic tissue papers to wipe the cow dung off his saddles, after a wrong step on our walk back home… hehe

This is the sense of belonging we are talking about, although a bit disjointed at times. And remember there was a time, only 4 of us plus Patrick had fellowship in cell group. When had the numbers ever been important anyway?

Let’s talk about some of those sentiments that prevent people from coming.

Catholic Christians are a very diverse type of Christians, considering the methods of prayers one can devote his spirit into. While all these prayers have a same goal and lead to the same Christ Jesus, some of us may prefer one kind of prayer over the other. There is the rosary, meditative or contemplative prayer, devotion to the saints; some may prefer just praying alone in the room, some may not mind group praying and sharing and games, or even the charismatic praise and worship (but some may be tone deaf. How can they sing?) etc…

(With so many prayers, Catholicism seems to be in a mess, but this is not so. We are united by the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, celebrated daily in mass, the most important worship)

But the fact is clear, base on their cultural background some may not be comfortable with certain kinds of prayer and thus does not come for the prayer meetings because they just can’t prayer under those circumstances. Therefore I suggest that the meetings be structured so as to soothe the needs of (which I categorize into) traditionalist, charismatics or the ‘in betweens’.

Another matter is the hope that “we Catholics can form this little community whereby we would have a sense of belonging” when we have our prayer meetings together. But I must stress that these meetings alone can’t promote this sense of belonging. Developing this sense starts from our role to be a Christian friend first.

We’ll have to swallow our pride and our comfort zones and show our care and concern. Maybe remember us in your smses. Each of us has our own needs and desperations. Caring enough to know and understand them (even though they may seem complicated) and to provide a little help or comfort will strengthen these bonds of friendship and belonging. More time spent with each individual personally would interpret into more communication and understanding.

God gave you the power to persist in such a ministry… Do not abandon this pursuit even if it hurts.

In this messy world it seems that God gave you the grace to be this pillar. Under this circumstance, nobody can arrest this role from you. I for one have been put in the dark. I cannot even maintain a balance in myself.

I pray that you won’t give up that light of selflessness, in your heart.