[null, null, {"document_url": "http://toscasac.blogspot.com/2012/07/playing-hooky-from-church.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcXACqse1IU/UAxpjaRMZgI/AAAAAAAACi0/KGJCrRrR7Sw/s320/ChruchSign1.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcXACqse1IU/UAxpjaRMZgI/AAAAAAAACi0/KGJCrRrR7Sw/s320/ChruchSign1.jpg", "formatted_filename": "ChruchSign", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 288}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://toscasac.blogspot.com/2012/07/playing-hooky-from-church.html", "unformatted_src": "http://www.theblogfarm.com/images/theblogfarmtag.jpg", "src": "http://www.theblogfarm.com/images/theblogfarmtag.jpg", "formatted_filename": "theblogfarmtag", "alt_text": "The Blog Farm"}, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://toscasac.blogspot.com/2012/07/playing-hooky-from-church.html", "unformatted_src": "http://vp.cdn.cityvoterinc.com/wclientimg/11.png", "src": "http://vp.cdn.cityvoterinc.com/wclientimg/11.png", "alt_text": "KCRA 3 A-List logo"}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://toscasac.blogspot.com/2012/07/playing-hooky-from-church.html", "unformatted_src": "http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5217906589_c7120874ca.jpg", "src": "http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5217906589_c7120874ca.jpg", "formatted_filename": "c ca", "alt_text": "On In Around button", "rendered_width": 200, "rendered_height": 69}, {"document_url": "http://toscasac.blogspot.com/2012/07/playing-hooky-from-church.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RXPqNLOR5g4/TzdJWk3kP9I/AAAAAAAAAXg/ydBWact968I/s170/dereksblog1.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RXPqNLOR5g4/TzdJWk3kP9I/AAAAAAAAAXg/ydBWact968I/s170/dereksblog1.jpg", "formatted_filename": "dereksblog", "rendered_width": 170, "rendered_height": 169}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null]

Playing Hooky from Church

I do not talk a lot about my faith here on the blog.

Blogging challenges make you do weird things. I needed something to post about and this was on my mind as I awoke.

I keep odd hours or this might not be an issue. I woke up around 4 a.m. I stayed up for a few hours and awoke again around 9 a.m.

Summer late service starts at 11 a.m. It just did not feel like I would make it. You just know things about yourself and the free will activities you will participate in.

I never imagined I would be an adult that skipped church. My life has led me down a very winding path.

I grew up as a child with church attendance on Sunday being mandatory.
As soon as I could get out from under that I did.

For a long time as an adult I did not even bother with faith.

Things changed in late 2003. Then I could not wait to get to weekend gatherings. I felt alive and enriched. I loved the new little church I reluctantly had gotten involved with.

I went all the time and even to the little classes that were scheduled off and on. Those were usually after never before. I am not an early bug.

Suddenly after months at the church a friend invited me to a new church. This was almost disturbing to me. A church can feel like a family. Leaving one for another can be traumatic.

When I went to the new church I realized I felt so at home there it was time to switch. That is what happened in a nut shell. For more we would have to talk or meet over coffee.

I stayed at the new church and tried to get involved which is hard for a single mom sometimes. I did not end up staying there for very long. Soon I was on to another church.

While at that church all of which are located in Elk Grove I ended up staying with a friend who lived in Davis. I never missed a Sunday.

Fast forward a few years and almost a dozen churches. Since I have had my car back this year I have attended in hit or miss fashion.

My faith is still intact.

Faith is not all about belonging to a church or attending services. I know that might sound scandalous to some.

I even completely understand the idea of gathering together to build relationships and foster health and growth individually and together.
I miss having friends and meetings at home. I like church at night. Maybe I should check out a Friday or Saturday evening service some where.

Mini tales about my adventures are posted in the archives of this blog.
Posted by ToscaSac at 2:27 PM Single Mom Letters BEST Local Blogger Moms of Daughters