Several years ago, one cold winter day in Utah, I was to read for the Wednesday night testimony meeting at my local branch Church of Christ, Scientist. And while I had prayed for myself and church, the readings were extremely hard to put together. I struggled all day Wednesday and finally finished them.
Several church members were out of town because it was the holiday season, so I expected just a few of the regulars—a couple who were church members and a faithful visitor. I got to our little church, turned on the heat and lights, and then got a call from the couple. They said that because it was so dark and cold, they had decided not to come. Then my friend, the visitor, called and said she wasn’t coming because it was too cold.
I stood in the foyer of the church, looking out into the darkness through the glass front windows, and just sobbed. In my frustration and sadness, I said, “Dear God, I worked so hard. It was so hard to put these readings together, and nobody is coming! What is this about? Why did I do this? What is church about?”
