A look in the mirror

Notes: The author, who is dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Kelowna, diocese of Kootenay, reflects on her automatic reaction -- slowing down -- when she saw a police car on her drive into the cathedral. "What made me smile was the instantaneous connection I made between what I had done and what many people -- who come to the cathedral to be married or to have their babies baptized -- do. In order to receive the blessing of the church in either of these two sacraments, most people are more than willing to jump through all the hoops to make this happen. What became patently obvious to me was that there is only one difference between me reducing my speed when the police cars appear on the highway and the people who do whatever they need to do in order to be married or have their children baptized. While in the first instance I am the offended, in the second I am the offended". "On my recent sojourn over the bridge and into Kelowna, however, what was a unique experience for me was being hoisted on my own petard, which pointed out to me how it is that I myself often do the very thing that drives me crazy in the actions of others".

Subjects: Belonging (Social psychology); Compliance; Conformity - Psychological aspects; Conformity - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada