june 16, 2002.

This morning I wore my work shoes to church. As I slipped them on, I couldn't help but think that the last time I wore them I was a gothic princess in Montreal. I have the feeling that these echoes are going to continue to reverberate for awhile: this notebook, those tights, the camera, all used in Montreal and marked by the experience.

Oddly enough, this morning's sermon made me think of Convergence. The theme of the sermon was discipleship, and how we travel with only our stories and our trust that God will provide. Obviously I lost out on the lack of possessions category (3 pieces of luggage, anyone?), but it made me think of all the religious conversations I found my way into. It's kind of assumed that most goths are some flavour of pagan if not completely atheist. I was therefore surprised at how various people were supportive & interested in hearing me talk about my experience with mainstream religious faith.

Maybe it was because I know a fair amount about religious commonalties, so I can talk reasonably intelligently about how their personal creed coincides with mine. Also, my time in Bible study has paid off: I can now pull out a number of obscure Biblical facts that destabilize the commonly held belief that Christianity is inherently patriarchal, sexist, imperialistic or capitalist. This, of course, came in very handy during my filmed debate with Death on Saturday afternoon.

I also can't discount the fact that we were at a continuous party, that I was blasted out of my skull for substantial periods of time and I was a cute little loudmouth in pigtails. (Definitely not the standard picture of discipleship.) It's easy to disagree with a cartoonish fundamentalist twit on the teevee, harder to mock a person a foot away from you.

I cannot, however, discount the idea that it was genuine Grace smoothing my path. Less likely things have happened in my life - lots of 'em.

4 years ago today: roll, baby, roll...