WHOA.
OK, completely BLOWN AWAY last night....
So after signing off yesterday, I did some cleaning, then took the dogs out to go snowshoeing. The local Christian Singles Group was meeting up at the lodge in the middle of the canyon and even though they are too extreme for me religion-wise, I went anyways, just to get out and socialize....
And it was CRAZY. The Forest Service was holding a snowshoeing event and it was for multiple groups, not just the singles, and even though I saw two women I knew from the singles group who were NOT so friendly when I met them (the usual hostility single women give to each other when a new woman comes to the group), the rest of the people were families with small children, other dogs, etc. There had to be at least 100 people out there...
So my dogs and I went to a quieter trail... we had a good time; I talked to several other "overflow people". My fitness training is really showing, and we were done with all 4 miles (with hills) in an hour. So I had decided to go hike another trail I didn't know yet... but when I got there, I realized parking was very unsafe (right on the curvy highway) and I was worried about my dogs being too close to the traffic, so I headed back home instead...
WHICH then gave me time to get ready to go to CHURCH. Ok, quick back history... I grew up with a family full of ministers. The hypocrisy is SO BIG that it's made me VERY cynical.... which is why I struggle with going to the singles group or church itself. I can swear as good as the saltiest sailors, and people who quote bible verses to judge and condemn others just set me off, so I avoid church like the plague...
But my friend that I walk with on Mondays gave me that book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Pastor Rick Warren and told me to read it to find out what I wanted to do with my life since the divorce. When I first started reading it, that whole hypocrisy thing was getting in the way and I put it down for a year.... and then my X died, and feelings of being lost came flooding back and so I picked it up again and this time it all made sense. And one of the chapters was about how church wasn't just about praising God, but also about being a part of a community... and I've been so ALONE for SO LONG....
And so, when I finished the book, I told my friend that I'd go back to the church I had been going to but had some issues with it. I just couldn't connect with it anymore... and so she said to stop by her church, told me the hours including SATURDAY nights! Church on Saturday?!! Well, ok, I'll go... especially since it will still leave me free forest time on the weekends (where my "church" really is)...
So I get back from hiking STARVING at 3pm and make myself "breakfast"... pancakes, bacon, an egg... hey, I burned 939 calories out there, lol... and as I finished eating the "I don't wanna" hit... I don't wanna go to church... I don't wanna be around another bunch of hypocrites.... but I don't wanna have to tell my friend that I didn't wanna....
And so I went....
TV screens, a stage, lawn chairs, cameras in the back.... and what do ya know, A ROCK BAND. OK, I was impressed....
AND THEN, the SUBJECT: "BROKEN" as in broken hearts. OMG, Thank GOD for the thought to shove a few kleenexes in my pockets popped into my head as I was getting out of the van at the parking lot, because I USED THEM ALL....
It was a sermon on healing broken hearts from divorce, abuse, physical pain, betrayals....EVERYTHING I needed to hear....
And as I filled out the visitor form, who should step out of the door... but my friend! And we hugged so tightly because she KNEW this was what I needed to hear... and she immediately began to introduce me to people... people running food addiction groups... people running support groups for Adult Children From Dysfunctional Families... people who GET me... people who understand...
I've got a "Community" last night...
LATER!
So after signing off yesterday, I did some cleaning, then took the dogs out to go snowshoeing. The local Christian Singles Group was meeting up at the lodge in the middle of the canyon and even though they are too extreme for me religion-wise, I went anyways, just to get out and socialize....
And it was CRAZY. The Forest Service was holding a snowshoeing event and it was for multiple groups, not just the singles, and even though I saw two women I knew from the singles group who were NOT so friendly when I met them (the usual hostility single women give to each other when a new woman comes to the group), the rest of the people were families with small children, other dogs, etc. There had to be at least 100 people out there...
So my dogs and I went to a quieter trail... we had a good time; I talked to several other "overflow people". My fitness training is really showing, and we were done with all 4 miles (with hills) in an hour. So I had decided to go hike another trail I didn't know yet... but when I got there, I realized parking was very unsafe (right on the curvy highway) and I was worried about my dogs being too close to the traffic, so I headed back home instead...
WHICH then gave me time to get ready to go to CHURCH. Ok, quick back history... I grew up with a family full of ministers. The hypocrisy is SO BIG that it's made me VERY cynical.... which is why I struggle with going to the singles group or church itself. I can swear as good as the saltiest sailors, and people who quote bible verses to judge and condemn others just set me off, so I avoid church like the plague...
But my friend that I walk with on Mondays gave me that book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Pastor Rick Warren and told me to read it to find out what I wanted to do with my life since the divorce. When I first started reading it, that whole hypocrisy thing was getting in the way and I put it down for a year.... and then my X died, and feelings of being lost came flooding back and so I picked it up again and this time it all made sense. And one of the chapters was about how church wasn't just about praising God, but also about being a part of a community... and I've been so ALONE for SO LONG....
And so, when I finished the book, I told my friend that I'd go back to the church I had been going to but had some issues with it. I just couldn't connect with it anymore... and so she said to stop by her church, told me the hours including SATURDAY nights! Church on Saturday?!! Well, ok, I'll go... especially since it will still leave me free forest time on the weekends (where my "church" really is)...
So I get back from hiking STARVING at 3pm and make myself "breakfast"... pancakes, bacon, an egg... hey, I burned 939 calories out there, lol... and as I finished eating the "I don't wanna" hit... I don't wanna go to church... I don't wanna be around another bunch of hypocrites.... but I don't wanna have to tell my friend that I didn't wanna....
And so I went....
TV screens, a stage, lawn chairs, cameras in the back.... and what do ya know, A ROCK BAND. OK, I was impressed....
AND THEN, the SUBJECT: "BROKEN" as in broken hearts. OMG, Thank GOD for the thought to shove a few kleenexes in my pockets popped into my head as I was getting out of the van at the parking lot, because I USED THEM ALL....
It was a sermon on healing broken hearts from divorce, abuse, physical pain, betrayals....EVERYTHING I needed to hear....
And as I filled out the visitor form, who should step out of the door... but my friend! And we hugged so tightly because she KNEW this was what I needed to hear... and she immediately began to introduce me to people... people running food addiction groups... people running support groups for Adult Children From Dysfunctional Families... people who GET me... people who understand...
I've got a "Community" last night...
LATER!
Replies
Thank God!!! (literally). So happy for you!
Dang girl, the universe is conspiring in your behalf for SURE!!!! Just awesome. BTW, Oprah is replaying her lifeclass with Rick Warren at 9 ET tonite....I love watching her interviews. But really, I LOVE that your friend put the bug in your ear, and that you went, that there was a reason you couldn\'t back out, because it sounds like it was really a convergence of energy to bring you what you need.
Have a good week.....