Today is the first official Coffee For a Cause - drinking java to make your heart happy. Yes, it's a Sunday. Yes, I know it's at a time when people traditionally head to church. I'm not one of those people.
My parents were raised Catholic. They both went to Catholic school all the way through college. My father was in the seminary. My aunt and Godmother was a nun for nearly 30 years. My father's sister married a former priest late in life. I was surrounded by a lot of organized religion.
And yet, despite their traditional upbringing, when I was a kid, I was exposed to every single religion my parents were interested in. We attended a myriad of churches - Catholic, Methodist, perhaps Baptist (mom?), chapels at Hofstra University and C.W. Post College, temples, at the beach, in our living room - you name it, we experienced it. I attended a traditional Latin mass with a boyfriend and his family.
As an adult, I have been to the Spoken Word in Salt Lake City, Utah several times; a glorious experience! There is nothing, NOTHING, like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a Sunday morning, I can assure you. I have also attended a traditional LDS Sunday service here in NY. I went on a church tour through Italy and let me tell you, I have see hundreds of Madonna's in gilded frames and relics galore. I have studied the three major religions with an esteemed professor at Pace University who got his doctorate at Yale. I did extensive research on Wicca for a college paper. I am learning about Buddha bit by bit.
I guess you could say, I dabble in learning about how the people I love sustain their faith.
We listened to the Singing Nuns (honestly). We watched the Flying Nun. We saw the play Godspell many, many times. I would suspect my sisters and I could break into the entire soundtrack without too much effort. (I listened to it while writing this.) I could probably sing a best of Jesus Christ Superstar medley fairly easily as well.
Today though, today is for Amy and Jake and Jen. People fighting medical battles with gigantic medical bills. Amy - who single-handedly inspires me EVERY day with her deep, abiding faith. Her beautiful son, Jake - fighting brain cancer with the help of amazing technology and a bracelet that says #JakeStrong on one side and #GodStrong on the other, because at 12, Jake believes that he and God together make THE strongest team. Jen - who heals people through touch when she gives a massage.
My parents were raised Catholic. They both went to Catholic school all the way through college. My father was in the seminary. My aunt and Godmother was a nun for nearly 30 years. My father's sister married a former priest late in life. I was surrounded by a lot of organized religion.
And yet, despite their traditional upbringing, when I was a kid, I was exposed to every single religion my parents were interested in. We attended a myriad of churches - Catholic, Methodist, perhaps Baptist (mom?), chapels at Hofstra University and C.W. Post College, temples, at the beach, in our living room - you name it, we experienced it. I attended a traditional Latin mass with a boyfriend and his family.
As an adult, I have been to the Spoken Word in Salt Lake City, Utah several times; a glorious experience! There is nothing, NOTHING, like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a Sunday morning, I can assure you. I have also attended a traditional LDS Sunday service here in NY. I went on a church tour through Italy and let me tell you, I have see hundreds of Madonna's in gilded frames and relics galore. I have studied the three major religions with an esteemed professor at Pace University who got his doctorate at Yale. I did extensive research on Wicca for a college paper. I am learning about Buddha bit by bit.
I guess you could say, I dabble in learning about how the people I love sustain their faith.
We listened to the Singing Nuns (honestly). We watched the Flying Nun. We saw the play Godspell many, many times. I would suspect my sisters and I could break into the entire soundtrack without too much effort. (I listened to it while writing this.) I could probably sing a best of Jesus Christ Superstar medley fairly easily as well.
Today though, today is for Amy and Jake and Jen. People fighting medical battles with gigantic medical bills. Amy - who single-handedly inspires me EVERY day with her deep, abiding faith. Her beautiful son, Jake - fighting brain cancer with the help of amazing technology and a bracelet that says #JakeStrong on one side and #GodStrong on the other, because at 12, Jake believes that he and God together make THE strongest team. Jen - who heals people through touch when she gives a massage.
And so, on this beautiful Sunday morning, I wish you all love. And faith. And hope. And most especially, good health.
"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone's life forever."
~ Margaret Cho
In homage to my mama and my sisters, I think Tom was too young.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love
http://youtu.be/Nlagfh5eFP4 <-- revival
http://youtu.be/_155n8qPd9A <-- movie
I couldn't decide...
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above
So thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love
http://youtu.be/Nlagfh5eFP4 <-- revival
http://youtu.be/_155n8qPd9A <-- movie
I couldn't decide...
