Inspiration from God, Church and Music

Okay, so not too many of us bloggers blog about church life, but if you're going to know me, you're going to have to know about these incredible moments in my life. Like the ones that happened yesterday.

Waking up yesterday morning, I had no idea what my day would bring; a blessing to me as I love to take things as they come. But, yesterday felt different. I decided, among other things, to attend my home church. Despite the pain that comes from sitting in one of those old wood pews in the church where I was married, I find a great deal of peace there. The peace of knowing my church family cares for me and my little girl; the peace of familiar faces and greetings; of knowing that my pastor will ask me, "Where the hell have you been?" (Love her!)

I attended church yesterday to receive all of that peace, to hear a wonderful message in a place I call home. I heard that the Agnes Scott College Collegiate Chorale was going to provide the music, but I had no idea what it would mean. What a joy! They performed in a way that brought out the best in our small congregation. The energy in the room was palpable as parishioners listened to the exquisite melodies and lifted their heads in response.

One particular poignant moment for me was listening to There Is No Rose (Z. Randall Stroope). I closed my eyes to listen to the harmonious sounds of the chorale and witnessed beautiful whitish-pink smoke fill the room and enter into each of us, like the Holy Spirit filling us with the peace, passion, inspiration each of needed for the day. It was amazing; a moment I will treasure always.

I would be remiss in my blogger duties if I didn't tell you how tickled I was to hear the chorale, directed by our own Elise Eskew, perform Hail, Holy Queen (traditional arrangement by Shaman) in a stylized (aka. Rock n'Roll) version. Recall the movie, Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg. There you go! An exciting, updated arrangement that had us all tapping and clapping along. The Agnes Scott Collegiate Chorale did an amazing job as did Elise.

Breaking from tradition is what inspires me about our little Emory Presbyterian Church. It's not all about the Order of Service, or getting things just right. It's not about following the Good Book chapter and verse, but more about loving each other for who we are. Where I am in life speaks to this. Most of my church family knows my husband isn't home watching football. Some don't, and they ask where he is, but that's okay. I can honestly say he wasn't able to come. No matter the depth and breadth of knowledge, they all love and except me as separated or married, working or jobless, happy or sad, faithful or doubting. And that, my friends, is what makes my church home so valuable and inspiring to me.

Until next time, I remain Unstoppable.

New Hope, New Year, New You

New hope, New Year, new you! This is the 2011 credo emblazoned on the signage for the Scott Boulevard Baptist Church just up the street from my home. Driving home on Friday after picking up my daughter from school, I noticed this sign, as I often do, and the words so carefully placed for passersby to take note. And, as they rarely albeit unfortunately do, these words spoke volumes to me.

I never thought 2011, the changing of the year, or of the decade, would bring such dramatic transformation to my life. And when that change came at lightning speed, without so much as a quick alarm, I never thought that the possibility of hope could exist. But, here I am on January 10, 2011 with five inches of snow on the ground, a gift from the God of my understanding that brings with it a wash of frigidity to clean my slate again, only a couple of short weeks since it was washed before.

With the New Year I find myself a single mom without a job in a house with a mortgage and hope comes in the form of friends and loved ones with food, wine and good cheer to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year, a job interview (already) that, unnervingly enough, was quick and went particularly well, and a transition that has, despite the pain of it all, been pretty smooth.

So, now on January 10, 2011, what's next in this new year, new decade, for the new me in this new world? Some might think life to be bleak, dreary without the commitment to carry on a life together as husband and wife, but not me. Though I do miss the companionship that comes with that shared commitment, the joy in good times and bad, the steadfast love, I know that I will be okay. Alone is not a word I am afraid of because, quite frankly, I'm not. Remember those friends and loved ones, well, we've had more laughs, dinners, time together than normal and truthfully it's been a lot of fun.

My husband might be critical of the way I look at life because most don't choose to take such a view, but the people I love and choose to surround myself with do. They constantly fill my head with the hope of a new year and a new me and for that I am truly grateful.

Happy New Year to you who have taken a moment to read this. Join me in this journey of change and growth in 2011. May you experience the same blessings I have.

Until next time, I remain Unstoppable.