Day 6 of the Letter Writing Challenge

Dear Stranger (a.k.a. the elderly man who sits in the third pew at the 11 o'clock Mass),

       It may seem bizarre or wrong that I haven't introduced myself to you. I see you week after week sitting in the same spot in church, but the truth is, I'm afraid to say 'hello'. In all honesty, you seem like a crotchety old man that would bite my head off if I tried to be pleasant. 

     I'm not sure why you keep coming. I see you reading the parish bulletin while the priest is giving his homily, even when he is but 2 feet away from you! It's as though you're trying to prove how little you care about what he's saying, like it's your way of rebelling. Maybe you've had a bad experience with the Church. Maybe you're just at that point in life where you think you can say or do anything because you're old and no one will say anything. I don't know.

     I do know that I have only one real chance to speak with you, and that's right before Mass begins. Because as soon as you receive Communion, I don't see you again. Why do you do that? Why do you think it's okay to sit in the pew and enjoy (or maybe not) the fruits of everyone else's labor, but you can't bear to stay an extra 5 minutes to hear the parish announcements at the end? Yes, it's true church is free. Yes, it's true you are under no obligation to participate. Yes, it's true God loves you no matter what you do or don't do. But this church is a community. It's full of people who are looking for a connection. People who are waiting to experience an encounter with God through other people.

Huh. I guess I answered my own question. Are you waiting for me...?

Your family member in Christ