How it started vs how it ended.

Woke up with the Unitarians and rested after an  Episcopal evening service. Such extreme ends of each religious spectrum. Each honoring the community and love between us all as humans. Honoring the divine presence in our lives that weaves us together. Such beautiful expressions of God’s love at work in the world.

Although the Unitarians have no religious symbols other than the chalice in the sanctuary, three crosses cast a shadow over the alter as Rev Carolyn Patierno said “…at the memorial service a woman would have liked to hear scripture and a prayer. I told her- ‘the service WAS the prayer.” For someone like me, a mind always churning, it feels good to know that my acts of love are prayers, my art as I paint alone are prayers and my gratitude is a prayer. Then I see symbols from my Christian god in a place some people would tell me, He does not live. There is no where I go that my God will not be with me.

In the evening, weaving around candles and iron crosses, I sat in a weathered pew at St. John’s and see three bibles with three gold crosses in every pew in front of me. Eyes drawing up past the lovely piano and it’s music, the word “EPIPHANY” stood alone and bold on the hymnal board. I took communion and honored God’s sacrifice. It felt comfortable to be clear and precise with God here.

Rev. Kate Wesch reacted to the scripture about Lot and his plethora of problems, remembering a memorial from her past and asking what we’re all thinking: “why do bad things happen to good people?”

We just don’t know. Its too big a question to answer but she reminds us, with Mr. Rogers-like warmth, that after service, they would all be making Valentines for their home bound community members. Whatever the circumstance, you are not alone and it’s okay to be mad at God sometimes. He can take it.

Perhaps bad things happen so that good can come balance it out. So we don’t get stuck in neutral, afraid to live. And perhaps a prayer doesn’t need a title, middle and sign off but can be a kind gesture, a caring heart, a life of gratitude. For me, it’s a little of each. Each house of worship adds spice to my spiritual soup and I am fed. God meets me in every  place and I see Jesus’ face in every person that preaches love.