The View From the Back

I’ve been sitting in the front pews all my life. I love being close to the altar and the action of the Mass. I sat in the front as a child with my parents. I sat in the front as a parent so my sons could see what was going on. I sat in the front with my primary students throughout the many decades I taught at a Catholic school. As a retired person, I still chose the front seats, until my asthma started kicking up. I decided to move myself around the church building to move away from things that might set off my cough. On Christmas morning I found myself in one of the back pews with my next door neighbor. I was convinced it wouldn’t be a good fit for me, but if it helped my cough, I’d try it.

I felt removed from the altar, until several things happened to change my mind. First of all, our pastor is also my high school classmate. As he was about to process down the aisle with another high school classmate who was to be the lector, Father tapped me on the shoulder to ask if I wanted to walk down with the both of them. This was a touching, but joking, comment about the number of people from our Catholic high school, Class of 1967, who are still extremely active in the parish. Sitting in the back allowed me to look forward and see so many former classmates with their families. This is a true testament to our excellent Catholic Education at De Sales High School. Our class seems to have the highest number of people still participating and holding strong our Faith.

Shortly after the Mass began, I felt another tap on the shoulder. The men were short an usher, so I was asked to participate, as I had before at several School Masses. This was an enjoyable way for me to be part of the Mass. I was able to see so many families together, and so many children ready to toss in their folded up dollars. It was a way for me to say thank you to each donor for loving our parish. Being one of only two women in the parish who have this occasional honor, I was tickled to be able to help out.

I found myself in the back, reflecting on the beauty of the community. It’s something I don’t see when I sit up front. Sitting in the back gave me a sense of the way we all join together to praise our God, to embrace our families in God’s loving grace, and to see neighbor greeting neighbor all with one accord. It squelched that feeling I had that those in the back seats are not participating as strongly as those in the front. It was beautiful to see my fellow worshippers united in the love of Christ, wishing and hoping for peace, healing, and grace. All of this is happening in a magnificent building that reflects a cathedral style architecture.

The best part was that I found I could breathe better in the back. My asthma symptoms were greatly reduced. I was able to get up and go to the foyer for more air, and still not miss a beat of the Mass. Perhaps this will be a change for me as I enter 2016. A new view. A new perspective. A new way to participate. As a senior citizen, it’s refreshing to have a page turn as I embrace my life of Faith.