Lectors Meetings

Ever wonder what a Lectors meeting is like?

Well, one silent rule pervades the agenda of the entire meeting: the Parkinsons Law of Triviality. I got this from the book, The Art of Conversation, by Catherine Blyth, and it states that: The less important an agenda item, the more time is spent on it. She adds to this by saying, "We speak most freely on matters that won't burn us, or for which any number of solutions is possible and equally desirable. The net consequence is that all meetings have a natural life span beyond which dementia sets in."

It's pretty amusing though but I guess that's the way it is. Aside from the usual discussions on mass schedules and exhortations for more commitment and focus, other side dishes abound to take up most of the meeting's time. For instance, there was the issue about acknowledging the audience first prior to reading a passage. What followed was a lengthy discussion on where to start looking at the audience ( Do we face the audience to the right? Or should we start with the left? How many seconds will this take?) or if there should be a uniform "protocol" to be implemented for everyone. Another case was about how early lectors should "report for duty" for their assignments and that discussion too devolved into a long debate about the time allowance ( 10 minutes? 15 minutes? 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 1 hour?). Still another issue I can recall was the case about the lector's garment to be worn by the ladies. Again, what followed was a gentle reminder from each one of the more outspoken group, reminding everyone about the responsibility not to soil or sully the garment as an act of charity for those who will use them next. Earlier than that was the issue of where and how to bow before the altar, a common issue then explained with great technicality by the veterans of the club.

Haaay. And there's plenty more from where these came from.

Sometimes, it does get to me, all this noisy racket on matters which matter very little. I suppose it goes with the culture of the group. Most of us are, in fact, sticklers for detail, even details which pose no significant value on their own. We can probably be called, and rightfully so, the Lord of Small Things. We don't just sweat the small stuff, we sweat it, taste it, and sweat it again ( Ewww).

I just hope though that my fellow members don't get lost in the woods reviewing all this trivia. We are still here for the same reason: to serve God in our own little way. I hope that reason won't be forgotten anytime soon. Till the next ( and hopefully, this time, "short") meeting then.