Super Sunday
February 7th, 2010I was assuming I’d be writing about our Super Bowl Party here at our resort in South Tahoe today, but God has a funny way of changing your mind sometimes. Coincidentally, or maybe not coincidentally, there was a Church directly next to our resort, so a few of us decided to wake up early, if you can call 10am early, for Sunday morning Mass. There was something about the Sunday morning snow that seemed different from all the snow the rest of the weekend. Something magical and peaceful. Church was a quick walk from our room.
We were warmly introduced to this small parish in the middle of the mountains. Our Lady of Tahoe. Inside I was immediately struck by it’s awesomeness, and I mean that in every sense of the word. Windows make up the whole backdrop to the altar, giving you a beautiful view of the snow and trees. Like church inside a winter wonderland.
La Pieta sits directly outside, behind the altar, losing itself in the white of the snow.
I learned a lot from mass today. What I didn’t expect to learn was that tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the Boyscouts in America. The priest asked for everyone that had spent any time as a scout (boyscout, girlscout, etc…), to stand up. To my surprise, probably 80% of the people attending mass stood up. The priest had one of the scouts come up and talk a little bit about scouts and what they’re all about. Then all the scouts in attendance stood up, as one, and recited the scout oath. It was pretty impressive, and a bit touching. I’m not gonna lie, the girl next to me cried.
The priest asked another random scout to speak. The gentleman was an Eagle Scout from Chicago, and just so happened to be in Tahoe on army duty. He spoke passionately and pridefully. It made me think about how God places you in the perfect place in the perfect time, for you. They closed mass with a song that’s very dear to me, and it just reinforced the fact that we are all where we are, wherever that may be, for a reason. A weekend that I had looked forward to for so long, to go snowboarding, to be with great friends, to eat great food, and by far, my favorite part of the weekend was one hour in a small church, surrounded by scouts. We may not all be scouts, I can’t even tie a proper knot, but we can all strive to live by the same virtues. So I leave you with the scouts oath:
On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
- dru
