Church Issues Resolved Happily
The troubles at our church have finally been resolved with the assignment of a new, young priest who everybody seems happy with. I have no idea how soon it’ll take for hurt feelings to be soothed, but I’ve already seen people on opposite sides of the divide, take steps to come together again. And so far the priest doesn’t talk politics!!!!
There have always been young preachers and priests, of course, since you have to start somewhere, but everywhere I’ve ever gone to church, the preacher or priest has always been older than I am, usually much older. Now I’m the one moving into venerable middle age while the priest is a Millennial! I’m not sure what I think about that yet. 😉 But hey, I’ve always liked Millennials. They’re like my beloved younger siblings.
Just two and a half months ago, I thought this was all gone for me. I thought I no longer fit in here. I thought I’d have to start over somewhere else. And to come back, feel healed for a moment, then feel like it was all about to get ripped out of my hands again– The past couple of months have been a mixture of dread and depression, combined with the heady feeling of learning how much my friends care about me and want me to stay in the church. Things were brought out into the open and I have a new closeness with one friend in particular.
I just hit 50 years old last week, which is its own dread, but I still feel youthful, with a youthful spirit, I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, and my skin is still clear of wrinkles. To my shock, three people on Sunday called me beautiful; a previous priest’s wife said I look better and younger every time she sees me; I don’t know if any of them knew about my birthday. They just said it without prompting. Almost losing my church makes me appreciate the beauty of the icons, and every moment there. I appreciate the beauty of the landscape when I go out on my bike (and am NOT forced inside by wildfire smoke). I’ve stopped paying so much attention to politics, now that we have a much better US president and I don’t need to RESIST all the time anymore. I’ve got other things to put my attention on in the next 50 years.
Meanwhile, I’m formatting my latest novel. My attention has been derailed by all of this, but we have a writer’s fair coming up and I want to have copies available. Can I finally focus now?
(And yes, Richard and Tracy, this is also for you, since I know you were so interested in the church business. After all these years, Richard, I think you’re still my biggest confidant!)