Comfort, Comfort We Adore Thee!!

Everyone likes to be comfortable, right??? Last year we bought a new bed. It's awesome. It's super comfortable and, when the occasion arises, we all fit--all 5 of us, including the dogs!

Aidan loves our bed and can be found there watching TV most mornings while I get ready for work. We try to discourage night time sharing of the bed, but invaribly it happens that he can be found between us about once a week--Mommy doesn't sleep much on those nights. . . the wiggles and toes in my stomach do nothing to induce sleep!!!

We like comfort in other areas of our life, too. . .and, because we do, we're going to check out a different church today.

It's no secret that I have been unhappy with my church for a long time. I was one of those over-involved people for many years. You name it, I had either done it or was doing it. Then I had a falling out with our priest. He got mad at me about something--it's been 6 years and I still don't know what it was--which effectively ended most, and ultimately, all of my minitries. I completed everything, but the joy had gone out of what I was doing.

Eventually we talked and things seemed to get better, but I couldn't get my feet and hands moving again. I didn't feel particularly welcome in the things I tried and I couldn't get involved in the things I really desired to do. Ultimately, I became the Parish Historian. . .doing something I love (I have a degree in hitory) but not really doing anything.

Fast forward a couple of years and the drama continues with a "no" answer on having Aidan baptized on a particular Sunday--my in-laws are the only ones who live near us and I wanted my sisters and my mom here. Since they were waiting to come a month after we got home from Russia--my attachment rule--I really only had one Sunday available. I was trying to coordinate that while completing all of our travel arrangements and the putting of our lives on hold for a month. But, our Bishop was coming that day. So, the decision was to not have any infant baptisms. . .really. . .that effectively ended any hope of Pat even considering this our church home--even though we've been going there for 17 years! He's been maybe three times since then.

I doggedly continued trying, but it was always the same. Couldn't get into what I really wanted to do and stuck in an obscure corner with the historian stuff.

Then, it was revealed how badly irresponsibile the powers that be had been, fiscally speaking. Stunning is the best word to describe it. I mean really stunning. I mean really really stunning. . .

But, I continued, thinking again, it's all about God. . .and then my friend was diagnosed with brain cancer. . .and I tried to get her and her husband on the prayer list--we need a reason why (me, no you don't!) and we need to know how long to have them on the list (me, really?). I spent two days going back and forth with the Parish Administrator and I still don't know if they are on the list! It is all about God, right???

That was back at the beginning of Advent and I haven't been to church since. . .I almost considered going to the Catholic church--Protestant gasp!! But will check out a couple of the local Episcopal churches first. A little church comfort is necessary, I think, even when you know you need to be challenged spiritually!