In September 2006, I introduced the concept about being a misfit. I told you that Rudolph was one of my favorite Christmas shows because I could relate.
I’m a misfit.
A
dentist elf, a toy bird who swims instead of flies, a prospector
searching for a peppermint mine, a reindeer with a shiny, red nose.
Why don’t I fit it in?
This past Sunday night, we watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer again. The old sympathies arose for Rudolph and Hermey, who, "even among misfits you’re a misfit!" (another truism for me!)
But
I caught something else. In the end, after the Abomidable has been
conquered and Rudolph’s family saved, after Santa asks, "Rudolph, with
your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?" there’s
another line I’d missed before.
"Sometimes even misfits belong."
Because I belong now.
I
like what’s said in that statement: you may still be a misfit, a
dentist elf, a reindeer with a shiny nose, a Charlie-in-the-Box, but
you can belong too.
Back in April, Chris and I started visiting this
church. It’s an Anglican church. Chris and I both came from years of
Bible church communities, so why an Anglican church?
We visited because good friends of ours go there.
We kept visiting because we liked what we saw.
We
liked the evangelical theology and the liturgy with the weekly emphasis
on the Eucharist and the focus on serving both the community and the
world.
In September, we became members. I cried. I cried because for
the first time in a long time I could say, "I love my church." I cried
because I belonged.
I have friends here. I’m involved here–I
started a book club and I’ll be teaching a Bible study in the spring
and I’ll be serving a local community orphanage with my church. On
Sunday mornings, I want to get up and go to church. I can’t wait to
worship God, to see friends.
I’m sharing this because it’s come full circle. This blog is not just about my struggles. It’s about my joys.
And sometimes even misfits belong.