I was on the road and away from home, but since it was Sunday, I knew I wanted to go to mass. I was really exhausted from work and travel the day before, but I knew that I needed to go to mass to start my week off right.
The mass was in downtown Chattanooga so I was excited to see part of the city. I was running a little late and felt rushed and a little groggy. I walked into mass about 5 minutes late-which I really DO NOT like doing- and sat down in the back of the church. Needless to say I wasn’t in the best mood. I tried to change it throughout the mass, but nothing was really happening. I also couldn’t help zoning out a little bit when the priest was giving his sermon. Oops. I don’t like to do this either because I love getting inspiration for the week through the priest’s words, but for some reason I just couldn’t get into it today.
It wasn’t until the Lord’s Prayer that I felt a lift in my mood. Usually I hold out my hands for the the Our Father but I don’t hold hands with anyone because my church does not practice this. But, at this particular mass, most people linked hands. I didn’t have anyone next to me in my pew and neither did the gentleman in front of me. We linked hands and, immediately, I felt like a weight was lifted from me and I was free from the chains of my bad mood.
I started to wonder, how did my mood change from such a simple gesture? Why did my mood change so suddenly?
I believe it may be because I felt the love and the community from the people at this church. Holding hands for the Lord’s Prayer is supposed to unite everyone at the mass and I truly felt that today.
After we let go of each other’s hands I felt another feeling fall over me- I started to cry! Not sad tears but content and happy tears. I realized that I am so thankful for everything that I have and so thankful for the week that is ahead of me.
The unity I felt at this mass made me really think about how a helping hand could truly help lift someone up that is in need. You may not even know that they are in need, but just offer that helping hand to the people around you. You never know what others are going through and your hand could be the one that lifts them.
Be a lifter! Lend someone your helping hand and you will reap the benefits.