I Went to Church, But It Wasn't the Same

How lovely is your dwelling place, 

     Lord Almighty! 

My soul yearns, even faints, 

     for the courts of the Lord; 

my heart and my flesh cry out 

     for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, 

    and the swallow a nest for herself, 

where she may have her young

     a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, 

     my King and my God. 

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; 

     they are ever praising you.

(Psalm 84:1-4)

I went to church, O Lord.

But it wasn’t the same.

The pews were empty, 

the sanctuary an echo chamber.

I know, we’re supposed to be 

  sequestered

    quarantined

      socially distant.

It’s for our good, for the health of your people.

It is right for us to stay away from each other.

It’s right, 

but it certainly doesn’t feel right.

We need each other, O God.

Your people – your church – we need each other.

Nevertheless, I went to church,

and I prayed,

and I sang,

and I preached. 

But it wasn’t the same.

I miss your people, O God.

I miss my people, my flock.

I know, the sanctuary isn’t my church.

But it becomes my church

when your people gather together

  to worship

    to pray

      to to sing

        to break bread

          to love one another.

My soul yearns, even faints,

     for the courts of the Lord.

Because it’s in the courts of the Lord

where I experience church

with my people, my flock.

I cherish my people enough

to make them stay away

until this virus passes.

But I miss their fellowship,

their friendship,

their encouragement,

their presence.

Blest be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

Hasten the day, O Lord,

when your people can gather together

once again

  to worship

    to sing

      to pray

        to break bread

          to love one another.

While we are absent 

one from another, O Lord,

please come to us,

abide with us,

fill us with your presence.

If we cannot dwell together

in your house,

please come into our hearts

and dwell with us.

I am confident of this, precious Lord:

I will rejoice in the day

when I can gather with your people – 

with my people, my flock – 

  and worship

    and pray

      and sing

        and break bread

          and love one another.

Blessed are those who dwell

in your house, O Lord.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers from the psalms as inspiration for personal prayer.