Monday, February 27, 2012

Frustrations in Service

I'm early for just about everything, from work to movies, Mass to airports.  I hate being late.  When commuting I pad my commute time with an extra 30-45 minutes, when going to an airport, I'm there at least 1.5-2 hours prior to takeoff.  When going to Mass, I try to be there about 30 minutes early, particularly if I'm singing (to warm up and go over my music). I just don't understand those special people who can walk into Mass after the readings have been read, or into movies 10 minutes into the movie (not the credits or previews, but the movie).  I find these special people are the same ones who like to talk louder than a megaphone while in church or the movies.


I have a special love of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, and I'm blessed to be able to have a place to worship that way very close to home.  I'm a part of a VERY small choir (usually there are only two of us) and we sing the propers and hymns a Capella.


The propers change weekly, and since they are in Latin, they can be a bit difficult. A recent Sunday was no different.  The Gradual (which is sung between the Epistle and the Gospel) was 15 verses that particular week, and some of them were tongue twisters.  The woman I sing with showed up 10 minutes before Mass (I had already chosen the offertory and communion songs as well as the song sung during the Final Gospel).  Ten minutes!  We didn't even have enough time to go over the Gradual prior to Mass starting. I understand she has been worshipping in this form for years and is familiar with the various chant sequences so doesn't really need to go over the tune (just the words).


Is it too much to ask that when you are serving a community in this way that you show up to Mass early enough to go through ALL the music so that the worship goes smoothly and you aren't stumbling?  When we, as a choir, fumble in the music it is distracting to those who are worshipping with us.  We become a stumbling block for them instead of assisting them in their worship.


Maybe it is just me and I'm too demanding and high maintenance in this way.  I know this is my issue and not hers.  Patience is a virtue, but lately I haven't been feeling very virtuous.  I've been feeling judgmental and impatient.  OK, God, I get it.  I know I have to work on this, but do the opportunities in which to do so have to come so frequently?  Do I at least get partial credit for keeping my mouth shut instead of ripping her a new one?

2 comments:

  1. Isnt that the way many people are these days--they assume it is fashionable to be late. we early birds look like jerks to them--however they get upset when we get what we want first and wonder where is mine!

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  2. You bring back memories of my days in the choir.

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