The man behind the pillar
I rather like the church I go to in Montreal. It is very culturally diverse. This is not a church that can claim to have any predominant ethnicity. There is also a wide range of parishioners from young to old - making me wonder where the young people were when I was young.
However, what clinches it for me as a very diverse congregation is a very old man who can sometimes be seen during the 9 A.M. Sunday service, unobtrusively standing behind a pillar. He is not hiding, nor is he drawing attention to himself.
What makes him special, is that he is not a Christian. He is Jewish. He wears a prayer shawl (tallit) and dons and removes phylacteries (tefillin) during the course of the service. I presume he is praying independently of us. However, when we are asked to exchange a sign of peace, he does participate.
I don't know why he is there. I presume it is because he regards the church as a holy place.
This sort of communion and peaceable tolerance always helps to strengthen my hope.
However, what clinches it for me as a very diverse congregation is a very old man who can sometimes be seen during the 9 A.M. Sunday service, unobtrusively standing behind a pillar. He is not hiding, nor is he drawing attention to himself.
What makes him special, is that he is not a Christian. He is Jewish. He wears a prayer shawl (tallit) and dons and removes phylacteries (tefillin) during the course of the service. I presume he is praying independently of us. However, when we are asked to exchange a sign of peace, he does participate.
I don't know why he is there. I presume it is because he regards the church as a holy place.
This sort of communion and peaceable tolerance always helps to strengthen my hope.
Comments
While I have wanted to ask him, I also do not want to intrude on him.
It is a difficult thing, do I approach or not? As well, he is not there every Sunday. Not to mention, I have two young kids who are pretty restless by the end.
If an opportunity arises, perhaps one day I will speak with him, but I am in no hurry.