I haven't been hanging around here much. I've been "out in the world" perhaps trying to convince myself that I can dabble in the Standard American Diet (SAD) to "fit in". Or just trying to go it alone for whatever reason. Something happened today, though, and it made me realize how much I miss spending time with like minded people.

This morning's church sermon ended in way I felt was quite...sheesh, I don't even know the word. A part of me wanted to scream. A part was seething. Another (louder) part said, "Keep quiet, no one will listen or believe what you have to say."

Anyway, the sermon ended like this: the teenagers of the church came in with trays of cookies. The trays were passed from row to row in the same manner as communion or offering, and everyone was encouraged to take one. While eating, the pastor said, "You've just gotten a little taste of God's grace."

I'm not going to give all the lead up, but do know the message wasn't as thin as it sounds. I get the point of it. The surprise cookies were a metaphor of God's grace. But what an awful awful metaphor! God's grace is like a man-made, nutritionally stripped, over-sweetened concoction that's a gateway drug for our youth, and leaves a large percentage of the human population feeling empty with cravings that can never be satisfied???

How do I even begin discussing how damaging such a message is, especially when our church is supposed to be a "safe place" for addicts who arrive by bus every weekend, people who's lives have been destroyed by addiction to the point that they are living in a homeless shelter.

Okay. This is helping. I'm realizing I can't let this one go without saying something to the higher ups. It's too important.

*Deep breath*

As for me, time to get myself back on track...

Jessie