Living By Their Foma?

Last weekend was the first weekend since moving to Arlington that I didn't a) go to Austin or b) have a gnome or redhead visit. Of course I could've stayed in all weekend and hung out with my rat and maggot friends, but instead I took advantage of the solitude and opportunity to explore on my own.

Saturday, I bought tix (er ticket) to a jazz/r&b/gospel show. Instead of walking into a hall filled with couples and small groups, I felt like I walked into one of those mega-churches that advertise on highways with billboards. EVERYONE knew eachother. The teenage girls (not the typical crowd at this concert hall) were yelling to all their friends on the opposite side of the room.

The band starts and they're unusually happy.. That was my first clue. The second clue came when they played a song called "Smile" and jumped up and down like Polyphonic Spree. Ok.. Even this was unusually upbeat for gospel. Then.. the preaching. I mean I knew it was going to be gospel music but.. I wasn't expecting the "amen"s echoing from all around me and the vigorous nodding.

After intermission, the main band came on and the preaching/singing ratio had surpassed 50:50 so I decided to get ice cream and walk around downtown in poorly fitting shoes with heels (totally me! ha).

Though I went to church when I was young and did the sacraments like many others, I've never felt it. Religion interests me.. but I can't yell out "amen jesus" along with the rest of the crowd and not feel very wrong. Religious people have always bewildered me. How can I feel strong faith in Christ when I know that if I grew up in India I'd be just as passionate about Vishnu or if I gres up in Nepal I'd be praising Buddha? I completely respect my friends who feel religion, but I can't claim to understand the feeling.

Isn't it a sign that during intermission I was reading a book wherein a religious leader begins his teachings with: "All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies?"

Live by the foma that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.
>:)