Church

I wonder what has kept me from church for so long. Besides laziness and the need for DOWN time, I think it's been my reluctance to believe all that is, what I thought, required of someone to be a participant in church. But something just keeps calling me back over and over to get this church thing going. I am sure some of it is that I was raised in church. My mom worked at our church and it was a very big influence in my life. We were there a lot. When I was in 8th grade, my mom quit her job and we had to start going to a new church. I think starting something new when you are 13 and 14 years old, is not the easiest thing to do. I was painfully self conscience and that ruled my emotions while I was there. I did, however, join the 9th graders in becoming "members" of the church and I did sing in the choir. But I could never shake the "I don't belong here" feeling. But that experience helped me SO much b/c 4 years later, I would have those same emotions when I started college. And somehow, I got to a "I DO belong here" place.

So I have definitely not wanted my kids to miss the experience of "church". I know they are not missing the "God" experience b/c I have always had that as part of our life but I have failed to make church a part of our life. And it's up to me b/c Rob Nicoll is not going to sit us all down and say "okay Nicolls, we need to commit to church". He will go if I tell him to go but he's not going to spear-head the effort. He was not raised in church so he's never been sold the value. So I know that it's definitely up to me and when Sunday morning comes, I want NOTHING up to me let alone getting 5 people dressed (again!) and ready for church. BUT - saying that, I have really enjoyed the last 2 months of singing in church. I have not just loved the singing but also the whole thing - the process, the prayers, the minister, the feeling of "I just did a good thing". So soon all Nicolls will be attending church. And I am guessing there will be a few in my clan who might have the "I don't belong here" feelings but this won't be the last time in life that those feelings will come a knocking! So maybe this experience will serve everyone well! I hope so!!