Mind the Gap

I’ve been driving by it for years, and while I’ve been driving by they expanded their building to appeal more to teenagers and seniors, two demographics I’m not.  My dad would go faithfully each week, and often several times during the week.  He went for about an hour and then would walk home.  My dad tells me about all the programs they have there, ones that sound fun and interesting, but not that interesting, besides, I’m not sure I have the time.  My daughter goes to the teen functions there at night to hang out.  But not me.  Each time he was going, dad would ask if I wanted to go, but I declined.  I didn’t think I needed to, after all I was doing just fine, and what could they offer me that I wasn’t already doing for myself? 

This morning, I was listening to an NPR report about religious practices in which it was reported that 79% of Americans identify with an organized faith group, which makes the United States a significant outlier when compared to other developed nations.  But this research is based on what people say they do. 

For example, when pollsters ask “Did do you attend church this week,” 45% of Americans will say yes, they attended their church. But researchers are beginning to understand that that 45% is in fact answering a different question, and that question is “Are you the kind of person who goes to church,” which brings me back to that place I’d been driving by for years.  It was the Rec. Center, a place where my dad worked out, and wanted me to go because it would be good to get some exercise.  A few weeks ago I actually joined, I walked the isle, confessed my sin, and wrote them out  a check. 

If you asked me did “Did you go to the Rec. Center this week?” I would have answered no until a few weeks ago, but if I understood the question as “are you the kind of person who goes to the Rec. Center,” I would have liked to say yes, even though I didn’t go to the Rec. Center.   

“Do you floss your teeth?” is different question than “Did you floss your teeth this morning?” The previous question seems to be really asking “are you the kind of person who takes care of their teeth by flossing them?”  And has some value judgment associated with it.

So there is a gap between how people see themselves, and what they practice.   No big surprise here.  I guess it is what we call our human potential, that space between what we do, and what we want to be known for doing.  As the Brits say “Mind the Gap!” If you don't you may fall into it, be it in your faith practice, exercise program, or dental hygiene.