Today, I visited a new church, and it was actually encouraging. Since I moved here 18 months, well nearly 18 months ago, I've been looking, sometimes not very diligently, for a church. And nothing had been satisfactory for one reason or another. Maybe I'm overly picky; maybe not. I guess that I can't really help it that I believe what I do and that I'm looking for a church whose doctrine matches my own.
Anyhow, today, for the first time, I visited a United Reformed congretation. It's about an hour's drive, which isn't ideal and isn't feasible when the winter weather is bad. But the good thing is that for the first time since I've been in Vermont, I was not immediately put off by the service. In fact, I found nothing to which I immediately object; this is unusual for me. In addition, the people, the pastor and his wife and the other members, were very warm, welcoming, and friendly. In the past when I have visited churches, I haven't really felt that. I'm the first to say that one shouldn't pick a church based on how friendly everyone is, but I have to say that it was just nice, almost like coming home, to feel genuinely welcome.
I'm embarrassed, quite honestly, that it's taken me this long to visit there. But I am greatly encouraged by the whole experience. Maybe this will work out for me. Maybe this will be my "church home," at least while I'm in Vermont. I don't know. But I am proud of myself that I went today, that I took that step. I have all this weird social anxiety, and it sometimes manifests itself when attending a new church, especially by myself. I know that that sounds odd to someone who doesn't have problems with anxiety--I know that many people maybe don't "get" that. Anyway, on the way there, my stomach became nervous, and I started to worry. But the point is that in spite of my panic, in spite of the difficulty, I managed to do it. And it was a blessing, the right thing to have done.
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