2004-08-02 - 10:48 p.m.
I think its about time that I look for another church to attend. I don't look forward to the (potentially) long process of finding another one, but at this point, I don't feel comfortable continuing to worship at the same place. My Uncle in law and Aunt are the co-founders and leaders of the church I attend. The reason why I don't want to continue going there is because they(my aunt mostly) can't distinguish between DANIELLE, a member of their flock, and DINKY, their niece. I've missed two sundays on one year, and my Aunt totally flipped out on me about it. I missed church yesterday(Aug 1st) and two weeks ago (July 18th). Considering the fact that I'm there 95% of the time, pay my tithes consistently and do all that I'm asked to support the ministry without complaining, I don't think that's such a terrible thing. But let my Aunt tell it, I'm the AntiChrist, live and in the flesh. No wait; my man is the AntiChrist since(according to her) it is his fault I've missed the past two sundays. Yes, since resuming my relationship with him in May my behavior has supposedly changed. Now let's do the math people:
May is the FITFH month of the year; August is the EIGHTH. So, we've been back together for three months now. That's twelve sundays, ten of which I've attended church. So how is my relationship with him interfereing with church? Oh-ITS NOT! Too bad I can't get that through my Aunt's thick head. She has some axe to grind with him. She has absolutely no proof for her theory. As a matter of fact, he's actually taken us(me and Zora) to church a number of times. She just can't accept the fact that maybe I actually had a reason to stay home from church, and that I came to that decision on my own. She claims to recognize that I'm a grown woman, then insults me by saying that he is keeping me from church. That makes no sense! She also called me a liar(for reminding her that my reason for not answering my cell phone is a lack of reception in the neighborhood I'm in, which she knows to be true) and irresponsible-all because I miss TWO SUNDAYS out of the 48 we have in the year! Now if she was talking to a church member she wasn't related to, she wouldn't have come at them with such anger and venom. Well, I don't want to be a member of that church if my Aunt can't distinguish between her roles in my life and my role in the church as a member, not her niece. I don't necessarily look forward to leaving the church-its one way I know I'll see some relatives and I like the camraderie-but I don't feel this issue with my Aunt & Uncle will be mended. When I'm in service I can't simply enjoy and participate as a member of the flock. I have the additional issues that come with being a relative, and I am sick of that interfering with my spirituality. Time to move.
