Sunday, October 13, 2024

Sunday, October 13, 2024 

 

   Whatever else is going on in my life, I am attracted to greater order than I have for the rest of my life. I make my bed every day now, and when I get out of my shorts and T-shirt uniform, I make more of an effort to look good. I wear a bit of makeup and put on earrings.  

    While I like attending the Catholic church every Sunday because it’s a ritual that keeps me tied to Mike, I don’t feel welcome there. A few people reach out to say a quick hello, and Judy and Paulette, friends outside of the church, talk to me. Since both these ladies are involved in several ministries in the church, they have other things to discuss with any number of people after mass.

     When I attended Unity Church, I had a very different experience. A total stranger will sit down and find something to chat about.  I go there for their sound bath on the first Sunday of every month and Crystal Healing on the second Sunday. I probably would find their services interesting. They think more about abstract ideas for developing social unity. Rituals are important in the Catholic church. The readings often address issues in human relations. However, they also address issues of faith.  It’s the old faith and practice conflict. I even consider faith a form of practice.

   I was raised in a home without any religious practice.  My father was Jewish and an avid agnostic or atheist.  My mother thought nothing about religion and was a pagan by temperament.  She’s a child and a force of nature.  She wasn’t a profound thinker. Belief in God was pooh-poohed.  I observed that people who believed in a higher power exuded calm and security. I wanted that. I don’t know if you can say that I believe in God. I certainly don’t believe the way some of my friends were raised in their religion. I resolved to give myself permission to believe in God. I gave my right brain to believe while my left remains skeptical- at best. It works for me. 

   I attended the crystal healing service today. I arrived around 11:30.  Members of the congregation brought food for the social hour after the service. Someone brought a crockpot of spaghetti and meatballs. It was delicious. I had three small servings despite having had a soft-boiled egg, buttered toast with red raspberry jam for breakfast, and half a glazed donut during the social hour after the mass. 

    When I returned to the worship space after the social hour, I was surprised to see how few people were there for the crystal healing. Usually, it’s wall-to-wall people lying on yoga mats.  Several people walk around, placing a crystal on each chakra point and two at our feet.  I enjoy participating in the event, but I don’t know if it does much for me.