Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Confession Line - Suggestion or Reality?
Some of the most interesting times at church seem to happen at Saturday afternoon confession time. Just when you think people would be the most penitent, the more potential for sin present itself. Perhaps a firm purpose of amendment and humbleness occur after each person's visit to the confessional.
One Saturday, I arrived at church to find the place completely empty but noted that the confessional light was on and someone was already in there. I settled down in the pew and awaited my turn. I guess the church had been empty when the current penitent arrived because she was talking quite loudly. Her remarks were punctuated with loud bursts of laughter. I sat there trying hard to not hear her but she was awfully strident in her sinful pronouncements. I waited almost 15 or 20 minutes and in that time, more and more people showed up for confession. After awhile, it was almost funny to watch the expressions on people's faces as they were 'treated' to this woman's exceedingly loud confession. Eventually, she exited the confessional and the look on her face was priceless as she had not realized the formerly empty church now housed about 20 people. She didn't stay to pray but with red face hurriedly left, humbleness applied. It was a reminder to other people as not a voice could be heard in the remainder of confessions.
Another time, we are patiently waiting in line for our turn when a garishly dressed woman comes down the aisle. She is sporting a picture hat complete with artificial flowers and a flowing, summer dress. She stops, looks at all of us there in line, looks at the closed confessional door, and then yanks open the door to confirm that there is, indeed, someone in there ahead of here. She stands looking in for a minute or two and then slams it shut and stands guard in front daring any of us to claim our rightful place in line. No one did!
My favorite was the mother/daughter duo that came into the church one Saturday. The mother, with a firm grasp on her daughter's arm, marched past the line and went right in the confessional with her daughter and slammed the door behind them. A few minutes later, the mother comes out and stands outside the door waiting. Eventually, the daughter leaves and the mother grabs her arm and they leave the church.
Since our current pastor came to our church, he made a much-needed change in Saturday confession. Up until his arrival, there was no discernible line for confession. People basically came in and sat near the area of the confessional and sort of kept track of who was there first. Naturally, many times, people didn't get their turn in order and words were often exchanged. The current pastor finally instructed everyone to get in line along the wall in the front of the confessional. Relief! You arrived at church and you knew your place! We still have a problem as people come in during this time and walk to the front pew in front of the confessional and then are very perturbed when someone in the line goes in ahead of them. Yesterday, a man did just that while the rest of us got into the line. After about four people went in before him, he looked around and said, "Oh, I didn't realize there was a line for this." Uh, you had to wonder what he thought we were all standing along the wall for if he didn't recognize it as a line!
One Saturday, I arrived at church to find the place completely empty but noted that the confessional light was on and someone was already in there. I settled down in the pew and awaited my turn. I guess the church had been empty when the current penitent arrived because she was talking quite loudly. Her remarks were punctuated with loud bursts of laughter. I sat there trying hard to not hear her but she was awfully strident in her sinful pronouncements. I waited almost 15 or 20 minutes and in that time, more and more people showed up for confession. After awhile, it was almost funny to watch the expressions on people's faces as they were 'treated' to this woman's exceedingly loud confession. Eventually, she exited the confessional and the look on her face was priceless as she had not realized the formerly empty church now housed about 20 people. She didn't stay to pray but with red face hurriedly left, humbleness applied. It was a reminder to other people as not a voice could be heard in the remainder of confessions.
Another time, we are patiently waiting in line for our turn when a garishly dressed woman comes down the aisle. She is sporting a picture hat complete with artificial flowers and a flowing, summer dress. She stops, looks at all of us there in line, looks at the closed confessional door, and then yanks open the door to confirm that there is, indeed, someone in there ahead of here. She stands looking in for a minute or two and then slams it shut and stands guard in front daring any of us to claim our rightful place in line. No one did!
My favorite was the mother/daughter duo that came into the church one Saturday. The mother, with a firm grasp on her daughter's arm, marched past the line and went right in the confessional with her daughter and slammed the door behind them. A few minutes later, the mother comes out and stands outside the door waiting. Eventually, the daughter leaves and the mother grabs her arm and they leave the church.
Since our current pastor came to our church, he made a much-needed change in Saturday confession. Up until his arrival, there was no discernible line for confession. People basically came in and sat near the area of the confessional and sort of kept track of who was there first. Naturally, many times, people didn't get their turn in order and words were often exchanged. The current pastor finally instructed everyone to get in line along the wall in the front of the confessional. Relief! You arrived at church and you knew your place! We still have a problem as people come in during this time and walk to the front pew in front of the confessional and then are very perturbed when someone in the line goes in ahead of them. Yesterday, a man did just that while the rest of us got into the line. After about four people went in before him, he looked around and said, "Oh, I didn't realize there was a line for this." Uh, you had to wonder what he thought we were all standing along the wall for if he didn't recognize it as a line!
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