for ever and ever
Apr. 2nd, 2012 04:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ekaterinnI teach RE (what some may call Sunday School) at my local UU church. I teach the 5-6 year olds, who are only slightly older than the 4-5 year olds I teach during the week. I've been doing this for close to two years now, and have rewritten the curriculum we're using this year to better serve the needs of this class. I have several of the same kids as last year, and I love spending time with them and watching them grow in all sorts of ways. I've even gotten compliments from a few parents, stating how much their kids like having me as a teacher, which is always nice to hear.
And yet, I've increasingly come to find going to church an isolating experience. A typical Sunday morning involves me getting up slightly before church, making sure I have any teaching materials that I need, and driving there to hopefully set up before class begins. (If I manage to wake up early, I may go to the first service before I teach at the second service). I teach my class, along with a co-teacher, moving through circle time, the activity, outside or craft time, and snack easily. And then class is over, parents pick up their kids, and I wander out to get some coffee before they pack it up.
And often nobody talks to me because they're busy with their kids, or busy with their friends, talking about the service, or simply busy. I'm just odd, someone who teaches RE, even though I don't have kids. I know I should try to get more involved with the grown-up part of church, the small group ministries, the outreach groups, and so forth. I value this church, and I've been a part of some cool things because of it. But there's a large part of me wondering if I should continue to try at all.
Perhaps this poet had it right, and we should simply stay at age 6:
The End by A. A. Milne
When I was One
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three,
I was hardly Me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five,
I was just alive.
But now that I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.
And yet, I've increasingly come to find going to church an isolating experience. A typical Sunday morning involves me getting up slightly before church, making sure I have any teaching materials that I need, and driving there to hopefully set up before class begins. (If I manage to wake up early, I may go to the first service before I teach at the second service). I teach my class, along with a co-teacher, moving through circle time, the activity, outside or craft time, and snack easily. And then class is over, parents pick up their kids, and I wander out to get some coffee before they pack it up.
And often nobody talks to me because they're busy with their kids, or busy with their friends, talking about the service, or simply busy. I'm just odd, someone who teaches RE, even though I don't have kids. I know I should try to get more involved with the grown-up part of church, the small group ministries, the outreach groups, and so forth. I value this church, and I've been a part of some cool things because of it. But there's a large part of me wondering if I should continue to try at all.
Perhaps this poet had it right, and we should simply stay at age 6:
The End by A. A. Milne
When I was One
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three,
I was hardly Me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five,
I was just alive.
But now that I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.
