11.30
AM:
I was
raised as a "generic" Protestant/Methodist; and my family pretty much
participated in all that comes with that, insofar as one could on Army
bases with whatever "Protestant" chaplain happened to be in charge at
any given time. So, I had a pretty eclectic religious background and
was open to just about anything.
When I
got married the first time, I married an Episcopalian and became one
of those for a while, because what religion a person chose really did
not matter much to me. Later, after I was divorced, I joined a Methodist
church because it was the most out-there liberal one I could find. At
that time I was really moving toward agnosticism and thinking of leaving
the church altogether, but the community of people was nice and social
justice issues along with liberal politics were high on their agenda.
I felt I belonged to that group of people and I stayed for a while.
Eventually
though, I stepped away, and while I still believe in social justice
and liberal politics, I long ago stopped believing in a supreme being,
am not at all religious and I'm perfectly satisfied with that.
Still,
the nostalgia of one's childhood dies hard, and I always enjoy waking
up on Christmas Eve and hearing the service of Lessons and Carols, and
listening to other Christmas music while I prepare for the day's events.
It's relaxing and it invokes good feelings of certain childhood moments
of comfort and well being, and of the magic and hope of Christmas.
It's a
good feeling right now, too, and I hope it holds.