Home Church

I decided to read the Children's Bible to the kids at home today before taking Ia to Sunday School and singing at mass myself today instead of our all going to church, and then we all met at the pool the last day that it was open.  It actually was a much more relaxing day.

Audrey is so cute when she relaxes in her Daddy's arms and floats.  It reminds me of when I did the same thing as a little girl.

I sang Rose's Turn at Headhunters last night for a friend's birthday party, after a stressful evening where I felt pushed aside.  I kicked butt on the song, and it felt good.  Vindicating.

Had a really interesting conversation  -- two really interesting conversations -- while I was out. It is good to be able to unfold my wings.

I was also really glad to be able to go out twice (!) with Dave last week -- drinks and dinner cmoprised of appetizers on Thursday, and then dinner at a Greek restaurant -- where I ended up singing -- on Friday. Friday night I felt as close and relaxed as I have in a while, later in the evening, after we were back at home.

It i 11 pm, and I need to make Ia's lunch.

we decided she will not continue Chinese.  It is not a good match.  I wrote to the people involved to let them know, but I haven't had any direct contact with them yet.

I hope to have further communication with Blithe from Art Beast about teaching there.

I better be getting up and getting ready for bed and for tomorrow.

First -- a parishioner told me today that I not only was a good singer but -- she raised her arms tas aI  do -- that my presence makes a difference, that I embody it.  That made me feel good.  I had a frog in my throat I struggled through today, but I am so glad I was able to be present -- to embody God's word.

I just don't know what to do when the lyrics are something that I think could be used in a destructive way.  I don't want to be a vehicle for that.

Listening to the sermon today, there were things that spoke to me and things that I thought were badly put or that I saw the potential for a destructive application.

I believe some truths can be difficult, but beneficial.

I also think that people in authority can try to enforce something that is wrong, or enforce it wrongly.  I think that I am a sinner, but I do not believe that everything that is seen as a sin is necessarily a sin.

I don't believe that gays and lesbians should have to spend the rest of their lives alone in order to be in God's good graces, and I think it is dangerous to "come out" if it will just put a target on you, and I think it is destructive to put people in that position.

The Pope has appointed the architect of Prop 8 for the San Francisco church, who says that gays and lesbians who are not celibate should be denied communion.  Is her saying that is true for every non-virginal married person?  How id he making that determinatino?  Is this something where he thinks they should self-excommunicate, decide that they are not worthy?

If somone is know as gay or lesbian, and come to church with another person of the same sex, would it be assumed -- or asked -- if they have a sexual relationship?  Is the same thing done for heterosexuals?

"There are people out there / unafraid of revealing / that they might have a feeling / or they might have been wrong..."

In what issues has the Church admitted they have been wrong in the past, or changed their views or however they want to put it?

How is it even possible that a woman wanting to become a priest would be put in the same category in the church as a pedophile?

Ia likes taking the online quizzes for religion class, because she likes getting the right answers.  I want to teach her what I was taught -- that, sometimes, the answer to everything is "it depends," that nothing is black and white, that institutions are corrupt.  Yet I also want her to be able to build on what she does believe in, to have a faith.  But I do think that simplistic faith can be dangerous.

Yet she asked great questions about God creating the flood before Noah's arc.  She saw that as one of God's mistakes.

I want to encourage her questioning, and her seeking answers that can deepen over time.  I want her to be able to be comfortable with the incompleteness of her knowledge, and not just be excited about getting 10 out of 10 on a multiple choice quiz that is ridiculously easy.