Karen Gets Kicked Out of Church

*if you haven't already read the disclaimer to the left, read it first, then proceed!*

Yes...it's true. I went on this bike tour last night with one of my friends. We had stopped at this one square and nearby is a Catholic church that she'd never been in. So in we go. (I should mention, yesterday was 84 degrees Fahrenheit.) Wait. (I should also mention, we also knew we'd be riding a bike around in this hot, sunny weather for four hours.)

I was just in the middle of telling my friend about my church history, when all of a sudden, a woman approached me abruptly out of no where, and told me (German) that I had to leave immediately (!) and that my clothing was inappropriate (!). I apologized on the spot and left quickly. But my reaction followed me out the door.

I was pretty taken aback. It was the most ironic thing, because last week I had seen this woman twice in two days, back-to-back, and she had stuck out to me. For some reason, I noticed her. And the places I noticed her were on S-Bahns that I normally NEVER ride; at times I NEVER ride. This was amazing to me...that in actuality, I had met this woman twice before. But then there was the dreadful third time--maybe they should say "Third time's the harm."

The irony isn't over yet. Lynn and I recently had a discussion about "exposed shoulders" in church. I guess I never realized that was a Catholic "rule". I don't agree with it, perhaps because I don't understand it. I remember hearing a few times growing up that God didn't care what I looked like at church, as long as I was there. Really? See, these days I believe that. I believe God wants my heart and He doesn't get all in a tizzy about the material covering my heart. I am not suggesting we enter a church looking like strippers, or in our birthday suits. I'm just saying...this is how people of faith get a bad wrap. People telling me what I wear is inappropriate. Well...guess what people. God is not some small mass of air that just squishes between the walls of one church, in one place. And when I left that church and took steps outside, guess who was there. Yep--the Big Guy. And when I kept along on the bike tour, guess who was there? And when I went and had a beer at our stop along the bike tour, guess who was sitting next to me?

Do you see where I'm going?
Do you see where He already is?

It's just another experience that confirms how everyone's just too busy worrying about other people. We complain we never have enough time, yet most of people's time is wastefully spent criticizing, worrying, planning, and complaining. I'm not excluding myself from this majority. I'm just saying...

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So, the bike tour was fine I guess.

Only two months left here and I have tons and tons to do. That's why I'm writing to you.