“A Catholic Reading the Bible One Chapter at a Time”…. A Field Trip.

 

On today’s edition of “A Catholic Reading the Bible One Chapter at a Time”…. A Field Trip.

Today— for the first time in close to more years than I can count— I went to church. Not “church” because of a funeral or wedding. Not “church” because I was visiting and it was expected of the guest to attend. I went to: Church.

But I didn’t go to Mass.

Flanked by some of the most amazing humans I’ve ever been blessed to know and call “my friends”… we walked towards the building.

I said under my breath, “Hey God. It’s Kristen here. If this isn’t where I’m supposed to be going or what you want me to be doing, just give me a sign to turn around. I’ll turn around and say this doesn’t feel right.”

The sign in front of the church entrance door read, “Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Breakfast Tacos inside!”

So I looked up and said, “Well played. You didn’t have to bribe me to come inside! But that’s a good start.”

And I went to church. It was unlike any service I had been to before (Baptisms are full-on pinch your nose, get some goggles and get submerged in a pool!). But what was more special to me… was that we opened our Bibles and we read them along with the Pastor. Stickie notes and margin scribblings… I listened and learned. I almost wanted more time there.

When the service ended, I realized that I was crying. I was crying from the message. I was crying because I realized these beautiful humans drove to Fort Worth to let me experience church with them and not alone. I was crying because I didn’t “mess up” or forget words in a recitation. I didn’t feel like I wasn’t supposed to be there. I didn’t feel judgement. I didn’t feel guilt.

I was crying because I felt loved.

I don’t think that has ever happened before… and it was incredibly beautiful.

To the amazing humans who went with me and have been so crucial to this journey I’m on: thank you. I strive to have your faith and strength one day. (And you held your promises of no s or s!) I’m grateful for you

I was a little too nervous today to grab one of those pumpkin spice lattes… I guess I’ll try one next Sunday.

“Fear is no good reason to believe in anything. I've tried and I've tried to know everything for sure. But I find I know less as I come to know You more. You're not who I thought You were…Praise the Lord.”