What happened to Sunday? That sounds like a fabulous title for a movie or book. The main character would be a girl named Sunday. Most likely something weird would have taken place in her life. Like maybe she was kidnapped. Or maybe it’s a Young Adult book full of teenage drama and turmoil. Either way it sounds like it has the potential to be great hook for an audience.
I found myself thinking “What happened to Sunday?” just the other day while I was working with students. In case you are new around here, I must tell you that I am a Speech-Language Pathologist. Currently, I primarily work in an elementary school. My job consists of helping kids communicate. They may need help with saying sounds correctly. I’m sure you know kids that say “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.” They may have difficulty understanding/following directions or answering questions. Or they could have more complex difficulties. The main point is that my role is all about helping people find and use their voice. Every human deserves that right.
On this particular day, we were reading a story about a mouse that goes to school. I asked them if they knew what days of the week that we go to school. The answers were all over the place. Someone said “October.” Another child offered up “Today” and some one else replied “Cheese.” I realized that I was reaching too high and decided to review the names of the seven days of the week. I started with Sunday and ended with Saturday.
We said the days of the week together in a chorus. It really was a lovely sound. There is just something about little kids’ voices lifted in unity. Puts a smile on the grumpiest face. We recited the days several times. Then I decided to amp it up a notch and ask which two days make up the weekend. While no one was able to name the correct two days, at least all the answers were actual days this time. I took it as a win. We then practiced saying Saturday and Sunday several times. I made up a catchy rhythm. We clapped our hands and repeated the days of the weekend as a team.
My confidence was boosted. I immediately asked the question again. The first kid excitedly said, “Saturday and Monday.” I modeled “Saturday and Sunday” and moved to the next kid. Each time, the child would say “Saturday” but “Sunday” would never come out of their mouth. Not once. They would name any other day. They were not joking or pulling my leg. They truly could not remember Sunday. But they could recall any other day.
What happened to Sunday? We are living in a time when many people are deconstructing their faith. They are truly examining their belief system. What they actually believe and why they believe what they believe. I am one of those people. And while my probing has uncovered some flawed theology, it has not eradicated my faith. I am a believer. But I am wondering if that is the case for many people in my generation.
There is a sharp decline in participation in church as I knew it as a kid. Strictly from a scheduling perspective, I get it. We have two kids that participate in sports. They have homework. They have other weekly appointments and commitments. And that is just their schedule. My husband and I have our own person commitments and responsibilities that show up on the calendar. Coordinating that all has us moving at a rapid pace.
But we still show up for Sunday. And I am not just talking about putting our feet in a building on Sunday morning. When I reference Sunday, I am talking about being actively engaged with a faith community. So it doesn’t have to be a Sunday. It could be a Tuesday or Friday. Community matters in your Christian walk. You were not meant to live in isolation. We need each other. And you know it has to be deep for me to say that. I am an introvert who excels at introverting. But if I am not careful, my introversion leads to isolation. And that isolation could lead to desperation.
What happened to Sunday in your life? Are you actively engaged with any faith community? Church does not live only inside the walls of a building. We, God’s people, are the church. We are the faith community. If you are not currently connected to other believers, this is your sign to find connection. You need support to make it through life’s challenges. Feel free to reach out to me for prayer requests or if you want to chat. I would hate for you to miss out on Sunday. #wepreach
