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| Just ignore the bra strap... if only I had taken that PhotoShop class... lol |
I've been searching for faith for some time... well, I guess searching for people to share my faith with... This morning, my family and I attended a Baptist church. Growing up Catholic, Baptist churches are totally out of my element. I love the energy, the excitement, the spirit, the history... but I always feel a little awkward... like how hard should I clap... how much should I sing... If you know anything about Catholicism, you know "exciting" is probably the last adjective you would use to describe Mass. You can usually hear a pin drop and if that pin does drop, someone quickly comes along to shuffle that disruptive pin away before it makes anymore noise. My husband grew up Baptist so anytime he has attended a Catholic mass with me, he always looks like he is afraid to breathe. Needless to say, we are searching... So, the boys LOVED the Baptist church. Isaiah and Wessie were clapping and dancing... Isaiah was twisting his little hips... at one point, Isaiah turned to me and said, "I like this show, Mommy!" I did, too. I loved the unabashed enthusiasm - you want to cry, scream, sing, yell "AMEN!"?? You totally can and someone will pat you on the back and yell with you. That type of freeing environment was just what I needed today. What
we needed... we have been through so much lately... sometimes its good to loose all inhibitions and let go.
After we left the church, my husband dragged us on his mission to find a Cracker Barrel. He had a $50 gift card that was burning a whole in his pocket. He is from the south... so, yeah, lol. The closest Cracker Barrel was over an hour from us in a part of our state I'd never been to. It turned out to be the most amazing drive... we talked... and talked... and talked... then we crossed a very long bridge and found a beach. There was a chill in the air but we decided to take the boys anyway and hang out by the water. It ended up being an overall awesome, well-needed few hours. Isaiah walked barefoot in the sand which was moist from recent rain... we found a playground, Wesley thought the seagulls were really funny and Richard and I just sat... reflecting... breathing... just taking it all in... I guess sometimes quiet is just as necessary as noise... Here are some pics...
8 comments:
So pretty! What park is that? I'm just so curious. :)
It always surprises me a little when I encounter a Black Catholic. In the very small town in grew up in Kansas there was no such thing - ever! It was unheard of and I didn't realize such a thing was possible until I was an adult.
I grew up Baptist - so all if can say to this post is "AMEN! Sistuh!"
@Robyn, Sandy Point State Park. The bridge crosses the Chesapeake Bay. It was super long and I sort of freaked out while crossing it... in a good way. You would love, love, love to take pics there. My camera phone didn't do it justice. I was so upset I forgot my camera at home!
@Dina, growing up in NY, I had no idea how rare that was. We had a huge Latino, Caribbean and African population in my neighborhood and they were typically Catholic. It wasn’t until I moved further south that people started having reactions to my growing up Catholic. I remember my husband's parents asking me a couple of times - like my family was an anomaly. I liked the Baptist church - not sure if it’s for us long term, it was super big - but it was great Sunday - "Hallelu-yer!"
@Dina: I used to be Catholic. :) I converted while in college. In my hometown, Black Catholics were less common, so from time to time I would go to mass at a church in the suburbs of DC where there was more diversity. (I lived about an hour south of DC.)
I love happy accidents like finding the quiet beach with things to do for the kids and a wonderful peaceful time for you all. See, now you have to be thankful to Cracker Barrel! :-)
I am a person of low to no faith, especially after my mom's death. I tried out a few synogogues (born Jewish) but nothing has fit. I wish there was a place that didn't necessarily have to deal with G-d or Jesus where people could go meet up and sing because the most fun I ever had at any religious service was a Baptist one I went to with a friend in graduate school. I was the only white person there and was self conscious at first but there was so much energy and everyone was so wonderful and the music was amazing!
@Meredith, haha! I guess I need to be a little thankful to Cracker Barrel... although with meals like Chicken Fried Chicken, I should probably not make it a habit lol. I total echo your sentiments about finding a place to meet up and sing. I was telling my husband I wish there was a place you could go and just embark on spirtual moments - like a room for Buddhist meditation, maybe by water to hold significance like in Judaism, maybe a crying and singing room like in the Baptist faith, a place for discussion and studying of it all... that would be so amazing. I find it so hard to fit my beliefs into one faith to the exclusion of others. Maybe I don't have to!
MOST IMPORTANT: Did you try the CHEESY HASH BROWN CASSEROLE? I freaking love Cracker Barrel so much.
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