During the time that the Kosovo conflict was receiving heavy media attention, I was asked to substitute in the Sunday School for one of the middle-school classes. I don't recall the specific subject of the lesson, or the details of the conversation that we shared. What struck me, however, was the flood of insight and inspiration that came to me during the course of that short hour. Our exploration of the Lesson-Sermon and its immediate relevance to the Kosovo conflict gave me a much clearer view of how to pray about the problem. I walked away from that class feeling so privileged. It was by far the most profitable hour I had spent in many days.
Church work sometimes feels like work—adding another layer of responsibility to our lives, which already seem so strained for time. It's tempting to see it as an optional element in our busy schedules.
That is exactly how I felt when we first moved to Chicago. I had been an active church member in my former town. But at that time, with a new marriage, a new job, and a new home, it seemed OK to just take a break from church membership. So for about a year, I attended church, read the Lesson, and continued to try to practice my religion to the best of my ability. And everything seemed fine.
