Hello people.
I'm at college now, in case you didn't know that already. I really love it here. It's a beautiful place, in more ways than one. I love my roommates. I love my classmates. I love my professors. I love the campus.
I've been craving something, though. Some level of worship that I can't reach through the mini rock concerts at chapel and vespers. Not that there's anything wrong with the worship here; it's youthful, it's enthusiastic, it's diverse. But it's loud. I want something quieter.
Sometimes I listen to Gregorian chant. I don't usually tell people because I feel like it's a nerdy thing to do, as in, it's either really really old school or it's somehow obnoxiously new-agey. But the truth is, I love Gregorian chant. I was once driving home late at night listening to the classical music station on the radio, and there were monks from a monastery in Germany chanting in strong, pure voices. It changed me.
We freshmen are encouraged to choose and attend a church in the area. I've visited a couple but they haven't stuck. Maybe it's wrong to dislike a church because I don't like its music; I don't know. All I can say is that I'm not satisfied yet. I want something quieter.
There are these beautiful flowers on campus. I don't know what they're called but I think they're the most arresting color in existence. It's not sufficient to look at them and say, "those are pretty." In fact, description is useless. What I can tell you is that looking at them is like listening to Gregorian chant. The morning frames them as richly as any cathedral space, draping awe across your shoulders, new sunlight fresh as silence. It's inexplicably fulfilling, undeniably moving-- deeply, deeply worshipful. They take your breath away and offer it up to God.
Is there a church that worships like that?
I totally sympathize with you. The search for our deepest purpose in life must ultimately conclude that we were created for no other purpose than to worship God.
ReplyDeleteI have been blessed beyond measure to have attended a church most of my life that worships like that. The 'quietness' of our worship comes in large part from the fact that economy and the tiny size of our congregation don't allow for an impressive praise show.
If you are looking for quiet worship, you will find it hiding underneath the boom of mega-church's praise team. You will find it in the small church meeting in the school gymnasium, in the hundred-year-old chapel, or even in someone's home.