A warm spot for cold hearts

I had one of those days today, the kind where nothing really goes your way.

It started with missing Mass this morning and went downhill from there.

My day was generally ick, but I knew I could make 5 p.m. Mass at a parish one town over.

I drove over in the late fall darkness, around 4:45 p.m., and parked in the lot across from the church.

I got out of my car and was smacked by the chill of November. It was dark and in the 40s, at best. I looked across the parking lot and there was the church, shining brightly, so inviting. It was literally light in the darkness.

I walked in to the warmth, the bright light, the soft sound of an organ and that warm, church-y smell. You know the one I mean. Not incense, just "church."

My day wasn't the best, but in that moment, seeing that church shining brightly I knew Mass would be the high point. I knew I could listen to God, receive Jesus and feel better.

As I sat in the pew before Mass started, surrounded by this gorgeous little Church, I've never felt so privileged to attend Mass before.

Just to know I could go to Mass and feel better, wow, what a blessing. And this wasn't my home parish, just a nice Church one town over that happened to have a last-chance Mass. I had only been to that particular parish once before.

I was just so grateful to know I could make it to a parish - any parish - and I would be OK. I would feel better. The Mass is the Mass, thank God.

Maybe my day wasn't so bad after all.