Timidly stepping into a church

No I didn't think the roof would fall in. But I did expect to be fed some Glenn Beck style political propaganda, I expected to be told who to hate, what to believe in order to conform and therfore not be condemned, how much money I must give and if I did not have that much to give I must be a sinner.

I even expected to be segregated from the men because women are inferior, or to have the sermon begin with "if you came here to feel good you came to the wrong place". Yes, that honestly happened, and being a sane person and actually wanting to feel good I started to leave but my husband begged me not to so as not to embarrass friends.

So I started to think about buying a Bible cover and enclosing a good read into it, or a kindle and who would know what was being read.

I started writing notes about how I loved trees and nature and science and the miracle of life and that is where I feel more spiritual, that you cannot find spirituality in a book or a building.

But then I got surprised. I started hearing things from the pastor that took me back decades, things about love and forgiveness, and a sad story about his kid who got bullied by neighbors that actually brought a tear to my eye.

So I started actually listening. Pastor said that you are supposed to love people who are of different faiths, and different beliefs, and even people who hurt you. He prayed for his son's tormenters. I prayed for the rich and greedy.

Then I wondered, does the Bible promised that the blessed will be poor and go to heaven only to appease them so the rich get left alone and get to live good right now. But then I thought, no, having that kind of hate and greed may get you some nice things, but your soul has to be suffering.
So maybe this book that is thousands of years old has some good points.
I know I dont like the hate that has been inspired in others and in me by the political atmosphere and class warfare in this country.

I honestly am glad I saw this pastor and not the Beck spectacle. I wish all of America had seen it. And this was a mostly conservative, mostly white, middle to upper middle class crowd. All listening about love and tolerance. And praying for your enemies.

I wish someone in the mainstream media would pick up on messages like this and play them over and over again. God knows our country needs it.