Some Come Here to Pray

Bored is what I saw, but uninterested and bothered is what she felt.

As I sat and tried to pray for the negative thoughts to be wisped away from my brain, the young girl in front of me whispered to her companion, “Broooooo what is she doing? Like… personal space… hehehe”.

We were at church. It was Ash Wednesday.

I was praying during the Eucharist; usually that’s what you do…. while at church… during the Eucharist….

They, the young girl and her group, did not receive communion, so they sat there.

That's fine. No judgement. "To each their own journey" I always say.

Their backs against the wooden bench.

My head nearly touching the young companion she was with shoulder blades.

With my head bowed down in prayer, she whispered again “bro like is she done…”

Granted, I was praying for a good minute. Life has been tough.

But then, my prayers became isolated for myself. “Lord, please, Lord, please, Lord, please shut my mouth and give me patience. Lord, please shut my mouth. Lord, please don’t allow me to set this girl straight and remind her that WE ARE AT CHURCH AND PEOPLE PRAY HERE! Lord, I’m sorry, and please protect my family, Amen.”

I sit back in annoyance and continue to try to focus on the Gospel.

The girl is clearly bored out of her mind.

During the ending Homily of the father, she takes out her phone and takes a quick pic to post on her TikTok.

“Doing the Lords Work :} ” she posted with a photo of Father on the podium.

She takes her phones screen protector off and begins to crumble it.

She begins to say obnoxious remarks to the companion beside her.

I should have been listening to the Word but the benches are so close together that her screen caught my eye and took me out of focus.

Her dad or man figure two seats down from her looked extremely embarrassed.

He kept looking at her with these eyes of “where did I go wrong”.

Because of that man’s already brewing embarrassment, I stayed in my lane of silence.

God clearly opened my eyes to see that this man has enough issues with the teenager. The Lord perhaps did not want me to full on kill the man of embarrassment by pointing out to the girl that she left a mess on the carpet.

I know the person who cleans this big church. It was hard for me to not correct her actions. I figured I'll just pick up her mess after they left. It's whatever.

I stayed quiet and prayed that eventually she will appreciate the setting of the church.

She was clearly not aware that people come here, and usually to pray, even though it very much is.... a church.

At the end she says “oh my god, finally…” and proceeds to walk away with her group.

She was clearly bored and I clearly still have some praying to do.