#1: Go to Church

I woke up this morning and felt sheer terror at being alive. The thought came to me, I need god in my life. Everything seemed too material. The thought passed but the anxiety worsened. I went and sat outside on the sidewalk about a block from my house and cried, thinking of the confusion of my life and despairing. That's when a voice said, you need a will to live. And I thought of creating this blog, a way to speak myself out of depression by committing to finding joy, simple reasons for being alive.
So I stood up, walked down the sidewalk, and smiled at a man with his dogs and two churchgoers across the street. Then I heard the singing coming from the church, just a small building on a neighborhood street. I crossed the street to stand outside and remarked how beautiful the music was to the hobbling old woman and man approaching. They said, come inside. In these clothes I asked? I had on flannel pants and a sweatshirt, they were dressed in their Sunday's best. As long as your dressed, come in. So I went.
No gospel stereotype could match the soul of this place. The choir sang for about an hour. The preacher sounded his sermon in a booming voice, pouring his whole being into the small room. It was called, what you laughin at, and the core was, people will laugh at you as you follow your truth (Jesus in this case), but you will know true laughter in your heart. He spoke the last ten minutes in song. I felt true laughter in my heart, the whole service was overflowing with spirit and joy. Who cares what reason says about religion, when people come together in prayer magic can happen. I haven't felt that kind of spirit in a place in a long time. They sang a special welcome song to all the visitors, everyone was extremely warm, and at the end the old woman who had brought me in took me up for a special prayer. Although I didn't go up to be officially saved, today Jesus really did save me. That church filled me with a joy that has carried me through the day. It was a true blessing.
Let's forget about packages. Be open to finding joy in a place you normally reject. This morning I needed god and he found me. What happens in that gospel church is a true reason for living. Accept kind offers from strangers. Go to church. Let the world give you the love it has to give.