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Church today turned out to be a pretty good experience. Highlights were a torrent of positivity about my family from the members (about everyone but myself, as I keep to myself and have not thrown myself into the Ward like the rest of my family).
But even beyond that was a glimpse of the kind of Zion we talk about here.
I ended up sitting behind a man dressed in jeans and casual collared shirt. I initiated conversation as I am all about making people who are not following cultural norms feel welcome. It turned out he was an active Mormon, but a tourist from a far, distant somewhat Anglified country. Realizing he was here today, and gone tomorrow, when he explained he did not want to carry a suit halfway across the world on his vacation, I opened up immediately. I told him I was unorthodox, and don’t mind one bit — and pointed to my own purple shirt that I wore out of convenience today due to white shirts in the wash. He commented that he doesn’t have a problem with unusual dress as long as it is not borne out of rebellion….but out of practicality, which is why I wore my shirt today.
Then we addressed callings, and I explained that after 25 years in hefty callings, I’m burnt out from all the church service and the repetitiveness of it — that I am serving in the larger community now and that I feel that is equally valid, refreshing and motivating. How refreshing it is to open up about my true feelings since I knew he was simply visiting. He agreed that we are not in the community enough as a religion, and that there are cultural norms that could be altered to make lifelong service a better experience. He was fascinated with my moving policy as a former priesthood leader, and seemed to agree with it. We stayed together for the entire three hour block and then he asked for my email address. Would like to stay in touch as he likes to interact with “out of the box thinkers”. He is an entrepreneur in an industry completely different from mine, so I don’t suspect any ulterior motives other than he enjoyed the conversation and “out of the box thinking”.
There was also a talk from a young woman who shared the feelings of a woman who coverted to the LDS faith recently, moved to Utah, and the experienced judgmentalism about her tatoos she acquired before joining the church. There was encouragement to be accepting of such people.
Very satisfying experience.
I am glad you had a good day at church! Being open with people at church I assume must feel really nice.
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