Christmas Mass

So as much as my Catholic experience has frustrated me it has also brought me some sort of enlightenment to the world and myself.
In any case, my favorite Catholic celebration is Christmas. More specifically, the Christmas Eve Vigil. 


My family and I enjoy some Chinese cuisine for Christmas Eve dinner and then we head to the midnight mass.


I love the lights and Christmas trees and poinsettias decorating the alter. The Nativity set up in the lobby. The warm smiles and feelings of goodness and togetherness. Despite all the institutional problems created by men (yes, we all know women have no influential leadership positions in the church), this mass always seems to ground me. I feel closer to my family and closer to God. The birth of Christ is a symbol of a new beginning and a stepping off point to do better and to be a better person. 


In this religious quest for answers, for understanding and for acceptance, my roots help me to appreciate all that I've learned and all that I want to gain.


Let's go 2012!

Quakers, but not the oats

So about a month ago Mary and I decided to grace the Quaker Meeting House with our presence. And, yes, now I'm blogging.


Our roommate works there so we drove over with her early on a sunday morning-yay for being productive college students!


The building was actually a house. It was very simple, as was to be expected.  It was different to not see any Christmas decor or lights or poinsettia plants. Everyone wore name tags accompanied by large smiling faces. 
We tried to keep in mind that this was a Quaker Meeting of Friends with an Ithacan twist.


The room itself had wooden chairs facing each other, white paint, and big windows and a small area for children to sit. The small pamphlet we received described the "service" as having no real structure and more of a "waiting for the spirit to move" whomever wishes to speak.  
After about 30 minutes the children, which I was impressed by their lack of ADD and no talking because no one was talking, all decided to leave to go upstairs to wait for their parents. 
After about 15 minutes of staring and people watching I decided to go with it. I closed my eyes and started thinking, well more listening. I was trying to listen to my thoughts and see if anyone out there was trying to tell me something. Even if the "spirit moved me" I was definitely not opening my mouth. However, after my thoughtful and prayerful meditation, someone started speaking. She talked about "crossing the line" in terms of  a football metaphor. She talked about learning and knowing boundaries and the difficulties when we are faced with those types of tough decisions. It was very insightful. 


Then, all of a sudden, everyone wanted to say something. Some, had no relation to what the first woman had said; even though that was slightly annoying it was really cool to hear various biblical interpretations and life stories of others (Go Anthropology!)


At the very end of the "service" Mary and I introduced ourselves and said how we had never been before and how much we enjoyed the experience-and there were those big smiling faces nodding and saying "Welcome!" all at once. 
So afterwards, I desperately wanted coffee, but that had to wait. We were offered stew, which smelled fabulous, but we politely declined and headed to Wegmans for our groceries instead.


One thing I have learned over the past two experiences is to always accept food. Food is a huge part of the human experience because it incorporates language, bonding, culture, history and tradition. You truly learn about others and more importantly about yourself. I will continue my religious quest in the new year!