None of my business

How many times has someone knowingly, with great wisdom, said, "It's none of your business."

As a youngster, on hearing these words, I would always become quiet and glance downwards. I would resolve to never, never again become interested or involved in another's business. But of course, in time, I would hear about another's situation and become interested. I never knew quite where those 'my business/your business' lines were drawn. And who, for that matter, was responsible for drawing them? What is it exactly that makes something one's business?

I have realized recently that I have been tossing that question around for some time now. I used to think that my business was any situation that I was directly involved in. If I was given a responsibility, then it was my business. Teaching, coaching, parenting all threw responsibilities and people on my lap. They were my business. So I grew to understand that specific assignments were my business, and other assignments were the business of my situational partners. When a goal had been accomplished, such as a completed project or season, I would move on to the next task.

Lately I have been aware that much of my angst about our church may be because of new boundary lines. In the past, I accepted tasks from the parish and would try to complete them to the best of my ability. Since the consolidation, whenever I have been given a task, I never feel that I have the autonomy that I used to have to complete the task.

As St. Peter's and St. Mary's were combined (Salem really never had a chance) it seemed that what used to be our business, was now lost in a micro-managed corporate world. What we used to discuss around a table, we now wonder about. Finances, education, liturgy events, all are published somewhere in the bulletin or newsletter, but noone really 'knows' what is going on anymore. That community sense of "Call so and so, they can tell you" seems to be gone.
Maybe the desired 'unity' of our parish is so elusive only because newly set boundaries prevent it. When time after time parishioners are directly, or indirectly told "It's none of your business." they start to internalize it.

Only a month or so ago, someone came up to me and told me something that they thought that I would know because of the committee that I am on. I am still amazed at how gullible I was when I said, "No, that couldn't be, we had a meeting last night and I'm sure they would have said........something........" my voice trailed off in disbelief. Neon signs could not have done a better job of exclaiming, IT WAS NONE OF MY BUSINESS!!

I accept that our consolidated parish does not have the small community atmosphere that St. Mary's used to have. What I do not accept is the 'none of your business' attitude that now harms our new community.

A Prayer for Awakening

Holy Spirit, come like a mighty rushing wind and awaken us out of our complacency, our apathy, our indifference. Disturb us, for we are too content to let things go on as they are, and to let people go on not knowing you. Penetrate the closed gates of our hearts and make us live again. O Holy Spirit, create among us a mighty Christian revolution and cast the fear of the unknown out of our lives.

Michael Hollings and Etta Gullick