After a 5+ hour drive down U.S. 29 through some of God’s country (and some of hell’s traffic), I made it home to Charlotte this afternoon to celebrate Easter weekend with the fam. Being Maundy Thursday — although as a kid who didn’t think it was called “Monday Thursday”? — we headed to church for one of my favorite services before having our traditional dinner with my best friend’s family.
I’m guessing most people don’t have Maundy Thursday traditions, but I think my parents invented this one a few years ago as an excuse to eat fried chicken with friends. Who doesn’t? So somehow it evolved into an annual thing with our families. Everyone meets at church and then heads to our house for some Bojangles’ (YUM) or BBQ.
you know you're in the south when...
As an Episcopalian, our Maundy Thursday service has always struck a chord with me. As a child, I remembered it as the “cool service” when the clergy and acolytes strip the altar, leaving it barren and somber in preparation for Good Friday. As a teen, I served as an acolyte and always felt a strange sense of service while silently packing away the candles and crosses into the sacristy. And now, after having missed this service for the last five years (I know, I could just as easily have gone in Richmond or Culpeper, but I never did), I am reminded of why I looked forward this particular day during Holy Week.
To avoid getting super religious, because that’s not my goal in the least, I will simply relay the simple but poignant message of this day: to serve one another, and in turn, love one another. That’s it. You don’t have to be a Christian to do that — and I know quite a few Christians who don’t, myself included. It’s a simple commandment, but a difficult one to follow.
We get so caught up in the petty, insignificant mishaps in our lives that most often could be resolved or avoided by simply stopping and reminding ourselves to love one another. But I don’t want to get preachy here, because let’s face it, I’m just as guilty of being petty and catty and judgmental as the next person. The truth is, being bitchy sometimes is just more fun. But where does it get you?
Now, this service at my church — although beautiful — has gotten a little weird over the years and now includes getting your feet washed and washing others, if you so choose. It’s symbolic, I get it, but I always opt to sit tight and let others handle the footbaths. Although Mom and I are going for a pedi tomorrow — guess we could have gotten a quick one for free!
I googled pics of pedicures. This came back. Hopefully no one getting their feet washed showed up with these...
Aside from the white plastic water basins that look so out of place among the stained glass windows and wooden pews, the Maundy Thursday service is painfully beautiful. From the darkened, empty sanctuary to the soloist singing “Were you there when they crucified my Lord” (gets me every time), it’s hard to miss the message.
However, most kids have difficulty focusing, including the 7 or 8 year old boy a few rows up who spent a majority of the prayers facing the rear of the church making peace signs, gun gestures and wannabe gang symbols, completely unaware that my entire family was about to pee our pants watching him. Don’t think that that didn’t come up again later during the BBQ dinner, thanks to my best friend’s dad and a couple glasses of wine. Love our get-togethers.
I’ll leave you with a verse from “The Servant Song,” which really resonated with me after the past month I’ve had and the unbelievable amount of support I’ve received. To everyone who’s been there for me in one way or another, know that I will always do the same for you.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow ’til we’ve seen this journey through.
So next time you’re ready to scream at the 72-year-old lady who just pulled out in front of you or your inept imbecile of a coworker who defies your every request (that’s clearly not an example of mine, as I am currently unemployed…), just remember what the preacher-man said: love one another.
