Something Crazy Happened....

I went to church!

It's the first time in a long time that wasn't Christmas or Easter. Anyhow. I won't get into it. I hate it when people try to impose their religious beliefs on others. I also hate it equally as much when people try to impose their lack thereof on others.

So, long story short - I happened to be walking by the local Catholic church and remembered there was a mass that had started 15 minutes prior. Well, I was late, but let's be frank - the Catholic church really can't be choosy about its attendants. When I walked in, I felt a little out of place, like the person who has to be escorted in late into the theatre - but then I saw a toddler running around in the middle of the place and I figured he was causing more of a ruckus than I was and he was still perceived as welcome, or so it seemed, so I must be in the clear.

Anyway. The main reason I went was to light a candle - I never have officially lit a Catholic church candle, but I've always been curious. It took me a little while to find the candles, but, for some reason, at this local church, the candles were not actually candles but lightbulbs with mini 'on/off' switches (possibly they saw the toddler coming). Sure, I felt a little ripped off, but something about this church (St. Andrew's on Paulina in Lakeview) had a very real, sincere, simple, unpretentious, comfortable feeling to it, so I let it slide.

Anyhow, I'm not sure if I got what I was supposed to or what I was looking for out of the mass, but there's a couple lights on in my name there.