Random Thoughts

Sometimes when I get into a funk, things repeat over and over in my head. Usually negative things. But I am not the only one, right?   I mean, that’s happens to you, too, doesn’t it?   Oh man, please tell me it’s not just me… Anyway, I probably should have talked through this with a therapist years ago.   Doing so might have gotten this god awful (pun intended) ear worm out of my head. Here’s a little ditty I was taught in Sunday school or summer Daily Vacation Bible School when I was a kid: “Jesus and others and you, What a wonder way to spell J O Y Jesus and others and you, What fun for a girl and a boy** (can that line have been that ridiculous?   I know it rhymed with joy…) J is for Jesus ‘cuz he has first place O is for others you meet face to face Y is for YOU in whatever you do – Put yourself THIRD and spell joy.” What.   The.   Actual.   F.   Seriously, it has taken me 53 years to wash that B.S....

We all have our take on organized religion.  Much of our perspective is probably shaped by our religious experiences growing up.  I don’t normally talk about religion because it is such a hot button issue.   And, in my experience, if you tell someone you are not religious, a cloud falls over the conversation.   It is as if suddenly their view of you changes, you are judged not for what you are, but for what you are NOT. But in doing some spring cleaning recently I got to thinking about it all.   You see, we have a PEW on our porch.   A real, live, honest to goodness CHURCH PEW.   We got it for free when a neighborhood church decided to close and let itself be replaced by affordable housing (which is something in short supply around us).   I saw a posting saying that they had pews to give away, and for some reason I felt like I really needed one… Our pew It was an odd addition to our house, really.  I don’t “do” Pinteres...

I am not a religious person.   I don’t talk about that much, but when I do, I realize it surprises people.   I haven’t had a “place of worship” to call my own since I was a teenager really, and that has suited me just fine (though I must say, there is a certain church near me full of very like- minded people that always leaves me feeling peaceful and full of joy when I go, and I went to a Bat mitzvah in Chicago years ago that left me thinking I should have been born Jewish because I fit right in and liked the genuineness of it all…) Anyway, I don’t find my “center”, my gratitude, or my “place” in a church, mosque, or synagogue.   I am a spiritual person.   I feel grounded.   I feel thankful (and take time each day to reflect on that which I am thankful for).   But I don’t feel the desire or need to follow an organized religion. But oh – once a year – once a year the National Cathedral in Washington DC moves away all of the chairs.   They cle...

I would pretty much bet my paycheck that we are the only people “working” in Bethlehem who don’t actually believe in the story of the wise men and the manger… Let me back up.   There is a DRIVE-IN CHURCH in Daytona Beach, Florida.   I know this because we live part-time in Ormond Beach, the city next to Daytona, and we happened upon the drive-in church once while out on a drive and found it hilarious.   What a concept, eh??   A drive-in CHURCH! Us outside the Drive-In Church the first time I saw it in 2013. I thought it was hilarious.  I didn't realize how KIND and ACCEPTING the people who go there are.  I hadn't met them yet! Then one year I read a little blurb advertising DRIVE-THRU BETHLEHEM, hosted one weekend a year by the drive-in church.   If that ad didn’t intrigue me, nothing would…   So, I signed us up!   No, I didn’t sign us up to GO to Drive-Thru Bethlehem, I signed us up to VOLUNTEER at it!!!   The fir...