Do you know that feeling when your pants are too tight? When you happen to catch a glimpse of a picture of yourself from years past- looking a little more svelte? What's the first thing you think? I need to start eating more salads and almonds! No more sugar in my coffee! You do that for a week before you start to go mad from lack of french fries and ice cream. It eventually hits you- no matter how healthy you eat- you will eventually need to drag yourself into the gym....and actually elevate your heart rate above 150.
You wipe the dust off your sneakers, convince yourself that your sports bra feels tight because you put it in the dryer, and get that ipod ready! "This is going to be great! I'm going to feel better! If anything, I'll make some new friends at the gym." You're pumped. You can feel the confidence of a new body...
That's how I feel about church. This thought process started when I read my mom's comment on my facebook page about my 1st blog entry on finding happiness. I have to admit, I was disappointed, mad even, that the only "advice" offered was to find God. The noise I made when reading this was the same noise my sister's neurotic dog makes when he thinks there's something under the stove. What did I do you ask? I ate a salad and had some almonds! I closed facebook, checked my email, watched the rest of Oprah, and slowly made my way back to the Internet. Why did she have to write that? Why did she make me feel even worse than I did before? Finding inner piece through spiritual enlightenment is like going to the gym! There's a lot of work involved. But- I have to admit I felt somewhat motivated by the idea of inner piece she was promising me...
Here's how the next few minutes unfolded:
1. I checked Oprah's website- there's got to be some organization or cause I can join to feel good
2. Haiti! They need me
3. Angels of God website- Almost adopted a Haitian child
4. Puppies..puppies with no legs....or eyes
4. Church website
5.Mission trips link
6. I'm going to Mississippi to help with the reconstruction efforts from Hurricane Katrina
7. Done! Mom- book me a ticket!
You have to understand that I come from the "go big or don't go at all" philosophy. I wanted to go backpacking, I went to Panama...alone. I wanted to help child less fortunate them me, I work in Harlem, I want stability in my life, I buy a house. So...naturally this made the most sense on my path to spiritual enlightenment. I was so excited that I almost picked up the phone to call my guru.
The only thing that stopped me was the look on my mom's face when I backed out of the trip because this idea is clearly in the "things I did on impulse" category.
Let's try church on Sunday first
