My Week in Review

Well, I am a day late with this blog post, but hope you find time to read it.

The past week has been busy and interesting. It began with my meeting the two pastors of my church. I knew them but we had never met in person. 

I don't go to church for a number of reasons related to my health, but in 1995 when we first moved to this little mountain town and this rural area, we attended different churches all summer hoping to find the right fit.

We had been very involved with our church in Albany, GA, the First Presbyterian Church there. It was an old church downtown. Barry and I sang in the choir and dearly loved being a part of that group. They gave us a party when we moved away and we missed them terribly. We liked this church because the people are open-minded and not biased toward anyone or prejudiced toward anyone. It is an open-arms church, I think.

It was a small presbyterian church here that drew us in. The friendly people and the small congregation seemed to call us. Before long Barry and another new member had decided we needed a choir. Barry just couldn't enjoy a church without a choir because he loved to sing. We formed a small choir and loved singing every Sunday at the service and at rehearsals. Singing makes you feel good and we drove home feeling as high as a kite because our endorphins were soaring.

I miss that feeling and I miss those people I learned to care about back in those days. Most are gone now.

But when Bob and Linda, the co-pastors who are a married couple, called and asked me to meet them at the church because they had something for me, I was happy to go.

Linda had knitted a beautiful prayer shawl for me. She said if I had to have surgery, and I will likely have surgery in a few months, she wanted me to have this shawl to keep me warm and to know I was wrapped in love. Now isn't that the sweetest thing in the world?

Wearing my beautiful, soft prayer shawl

On Thursday evening, I read some of my creative nonfiction at the John C. Campbell Folk School for our Literary Hour. We had a large group come out and one of my stories about my father seemed to resonate with everyone. It was a beautiful evening.

Saturday afternoon we returned to the same place at the folk school, the Open House Pavilion, and held a memorial service for one of our beloved members, Dr. Gene Hirsch. As we shared our thoughts and gratitude for this man, we also felt the joy of being together again since we had not met in person for two years due to the pandemic. 

Yes, last week was a busy week for me and it was filled with kindness, love, and celebration. 

This week has begun with medical issues but I am excited because my sister, Gay, and my niece, Lee are coming to visit. We three have such fun together. 

My dear readers, I hope you all are healthy and safe as we slowly move into fall with all the colors and cool weather.  For you in the southern hemisphere, I wish you good weather as well. 

Now, I am going to read all your Sunday blog posts.

Love heals

In these times of unrest and frustration, anger and judgmental emails and Facebook posts, I found solace this past week with my family in Roswell, Georgia. Love - it heals the heart, the mind and even our physical bodies.
Gay came up and took me home with her last week. She and I always find ways to laugh! Laughter is the best medicine ever. She has a terrific wit, and I can't be with her long before my dark mood is brightened by her light.

Living alone with no one to talk to when the world seems to be evolving into chaos is not lessened simply by sending an email or talking on the phone. Getting on Facebook is upsetting when you see that people who are your friends are spouting opinions that make you wonder How can we be friends? I didn't know my friends had such closed minds, that they don't see why the confederate flag is a symbol with vicious meaning for descendants of slaves. Why do I see that, but my friends don't?

I was glad I was with my loved ones when I read that the head of a Christian organization opposed the new anti-lynching law protecting members of the gay community. Does he think it is okay to hang a human being because he is of a different sexual orientation than this so-called Christian?

One of the things I like about visiting my sister is we watch the online service from their Alpharetta Presbyterian church on Sunday and discuss the sermon. I grew up attending a little Methodist Church out in the country where a fire-and-brimstone preacher visited once a month. The man in the pulpit frightened me when I was a child. Later, attending another Methodist Church in my hometown after college, I learned that the men in the church had decided they would stand in the door of the church and refuse entry to any black person who wanted to attend church there. This was in the mid-sixties.

Of course, I did not go back to that church. I asked the young minister, "How can the people in this church call themselves Christians?"

I eventually joined the Presbyterian Church where I found my people. PCUSA, is built on values of love, caring and embracing all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background. No one is forbidden to enter the church. Women are welcome to minister here.

In some churches women are expected to do all the work, but are refused leadership positions. A good friend of mine told me, "I had been a part of this church for many, many years, teaching vacation bible school, Sunday School, and doing anything I could. But one Sunday when the leadership of the church was discussed, it dawned on me. I would never be asked to take a leadership role. No one wanted my opinion or ideas. I could not be a deacon or an elder, simply because I am a woman. She said she stood up and walked out of that church and never went back.

In my little mountain town, Barry and I were so fortunate to find the most loving and caring little Presbyterian church soon after we arrived here. We both loved to sing and soon Barry had helped form a choir. Singing is uplifting and helps our spirits. He became a leader in the church and because of his outgoing and friendly personality, our circle of friends grew. We had several couples join us each Sunday for lunch after the service. Several couples joined the church simply because Barry made them feel so welcome.

Today when I hear the pastors of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church speak on the injustice of racism and how we can help, I am glad to be a part of such an institution. We can reach out and we can be a part of the changes that need to take place. In our town, the only black church here is a sister church to ours. And the pastor of that church gave an eloquent speech on our town square this past weekend.

I came home yesterday filled with love for everyone, especially my sister who is also my best friend. She is a person who understands my thinking and feels the same way as I do about social justice. However, she keeps telling me I can't change or save the world and must look after myself.
She is also very protective of me because of COVID 19. We will see each other every two weeks for a while now, either here or at their home. As I age, I realize how fragile life is. I want to spend time with the people I love most.

I was so proud of my little sister. She looked so cute in her majorette uniform at Albany High.

I hope you have had a great week and that the coming days will be good. Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts as we all cope with a new normal.

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