After the last post, this post might not make any sense, but it's a post of honesty. It's also a post that is proving a real point to demonstrate that the feeling you receive from a new, foreign religious experience is not always a positive one.
When I walked in late, I was not greeted by anyone and I sat in the front to get full view of the service. As I stated, I love to be front and center for everything that's going on. Sometimes it is okay to just sit back and enjoy it from afar.
As I sat down, I realized they were speaking the local language, which was fine and I found it to be quite cute. They seemed to have one lady and one man take over sharing their testimonies. With their sharing, they were speaking with no passion or sincerity. Looking up for someone to smile to, but no one was receptive. That's my favorite part of church-acknowledgement. People acknowledge your being and wish you peace whether they want to or not. It all felt strange because the Mayan culture is usually very friendly, which made this lack of energy odd. This was a small village area and this was a small, simple service, which I usually enjoy the best.
It seemed that all the woman committed to dressing up and coming, but there presence was confused, lost, or missing. 90 percent of the time, I am not the person who leaves church early unless it is completely and totally necessary. Yet I was staring at the door, not far away from my curious feet. Would they notice if I quickly slipped out? Maybe there is another church to attend for night service?
I'm watching the service and watching the door.
Some new people came forward, besides those speaking to themselves, and they spoke about Jesus.
I thought to myself, "I'm going to stay and work it out." It felt like a bad play that you already paid for, but you just want to leave. There is rarely a time where I feel such a strong desire to leave, but my religious experience was just not good. The whole thing made me feel uncomfortable and disenchanted. Again, the small services with different rituals are interesting to learn, but this was not an example of cultural learning.
The saddest part was the music. They were singing so loud and so out of tune and off pitch that I wondered if I would walk out with ears. Instead of stopping with all the squeaking, they just continued and I sat and listened.
I said, "God I know I'm horrible for saying this, but Please make it stop and let me go in peace."
Apparently, someone was listening as a minute later the whole system blew out. And what did the two men do? In loving and kind spirit, they continued to sing. Bless their heart, but it's not an experience again for Priscilla.
At that point, my curious aka annoyed feet walked right out the door. I walked outside feeling disappointed with myself, but now I realize it's okay to not like every service in every country-just human.
Walking up behind the church, I hear singing and Church music. I slip around the side and peek my head in and "Wow." An unexpected church full of Mayan's with smiling and welcoming faces. They are singing on a guitar, but everyone is chiming in and smiles are exchanged. Of course, there was the standard, "What's the tourist doing here?" face, but it's always expected, especially in a small village.
While it looks like a pretty standard church, I did not expect to see this kind in the village.
Of course, the old village church does not have all the bells and whistles of this one. However, it's just not about the bells and whistles. It's about the religious experience you have and making it positive, learning experience. If you are not learning, you don't feel comfortable-then don't force yourself into it rather live and learn from it.
When I walked in late, I was not greeted by anyone and I sat in the front to get full view of the service. As I stated, I love to be front and center for everything that's going on. Sometimes it is okay to just sit back and enjoy it from afar.
As I sat down, I realized they were speaking the local language, which was fine and I found it to be quite cute. They seemed to have one lady and one man take over sharing their testimonies. With their sharing, they were speaking with no passion or sincerity. Looking up for someone to smile to, but no one was receptive. That's my favorite part of church-acknowledgement. People acknowledge your being and wish you peace whether they want to or not. It all felt strange because the Mayan culture is usually very friendly, which made this lack of energy odd. This was a small village area and this was a small, simple service, which I usually enjoy the best.
It seemed that all the woman committed to dressing up and coming, but there presence was confused, lost, or missing. 90 percent of the time, I am not the person who leaves church early unless it is completely and totally necessary. Yet I was staring at the door, not far away from my curious feet. Would they notice if I quickly slipped out? Maybe there is another church to attend for night service?
I'm watching the service and watching the door.
Some new people came forward, besides those speaking to themselves, and they spoke about Jesus.
I thought to myself, "I'm going to stay and work it out." It felt like a bad play that you already paid for, but you just want to leave. There is rarely a time where I feel such a strong desire to leave, but my religious experience was just not good. The whole thing made me feel uncomfortable and disenchanted. Again, the small services with different rituals are interesting to learn, but this was not an example of cultural learning.
The saddest part was the music. They were singing so loud and so out of tune and off pitch that I wondered if I would walk out with ears. Instead of stopping with all the squeaking, they just continued and I sat and listened.
I said, "God I know I'm horrible for saying this, but Please make it stop and let me go in peace."
Apparently, someone was listening as a minute later the whole system blew out. And what did the two men do? In loving and kind spirit, they continued to sing. Bless their heart, but it's not an experience again for Priscilla.
At that point, my curious aka annoyed feet walked right out the door. I walked outside feeling disappointed with myself, but now I realize it's okay to not like every service in every country-just human.
Walking up behind the church, I hear singing and Church music. I slip around the side and peek my head in and "Wow." An unexpected church full of Mayan's with smiling and welcoming faces. They are singing on a guitar, but everyone is chiming in and smiles are exchanged. Of course, there was the standard, "What's the tourist doing here?" face, but it's always expected, especially in a small village.
While it looks like a pretty standard church, I did not expect to see this kind in the village.
Of course, the old village church does not have all the bells and whistles of this one. However, it's just not about the bells and whistles. It's about the religious experience you have and making it positive, learning experience. If you are not learning, you don't feel comfortable-then don't force yourself into it rather live and learn from it.
When one church door closes, another one opens up wide. PRIS
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