I was brought up in a should I say Christian family.
When I was younger,
most of us went to church together.
There was never a time when I didn’t feel like going to church
it was never an option
Sunday = church followed by a lunch treat and other business thereafter
(sunday school maybe,never forgot the one time I was imprisoned,I say this because I was not allowed even a bathroom break and having been accustomed to leaving class before the “BIG” church or simultaneously,I was not amused when we were kept in long after the “BIG” church had ended)

As i grew older…
I felt I needed to move to a church where
I could grow as a youth as the youth service at the church we went to
began at 8am(read as too early in my vocabulary)
This was met with resistance as my mum
would always say “A Family that prays together stays together”
after winning some and losing some i got to go occasionally to a different church
alternate sundays turned to monthly and eventually I moved
completely to a different church..
HOW IT BEGAN
I was really happy at my new church..
made new friends,
always rocked my sunday best,
Bliss.
I can’t really say I know what happened but one day
my enthusiasm just went away.

I would rush off immediately after service so that i didnt have to interact with people..
I began targeting the seats near the door so that my exit could be swifter..
I then started getting to church late
(ok let me say later than usual,
I have an issue with timekeeping which hopefully ,
will be a thing of the past by the end of this month)
Missed praise and worship,

I began targeting the estimated time at which the sermon would start,
Now when you’re late you don’t just go looking for a seat at the front pews or in the middle of a row
because it looks like one is either showing off what they are wearing ,
attention-seeking or unfocused
obviously it is somewhat disruptive.
So I began to sit outside lucky for us there were loud speakers situated nearby,
At first i would have a permanent sneer on my face
because i was irritated by the ‘noise’ makers
who I couldn’t find the courage to tell to SHUT UP.
Gradually,I became a noise maker myself
depending on who I was sitting next to..
and would feel guilty for about two days thereafter..
The ‘lateness’ increased and I would occasionally miss church altogether
I would leave the house and find somewhere else to go or
just go into town then meet up with family after..
still would feel guilty for about two days thereafter
Eventually I stopped feeling bad
and I got used to not going.

I realise that no one can force you to go to church..
What you get depends on how open you are to receive what’s there
God gave us a free will and I am no judge.
I can’t say i always go to church nowadays
Sometimes I am ecstatic ,
Sometimes i miss it all together
Taking one day at a time.
I believe ideally one SHOULD go to church
The Bible encourages us to fellowship together..
