Today, I had a moment... You had to be there.
My cute Pa-Pa, Ron Gholson
In case you didn't know, I'm Mormon born and raised.
Today I went to church.
For those of you who know me well, you know this was a feat in and of itself, but this Sunday, I was even ON TIME... well, pretty much.
Also, in case you didn't know, I come from a some-what musical family. (My grandfather, pictured here on his music television show 'Country Style', performed with Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Tom Anderson, and even Elvis Presley, but could never read music.)
When headed to church, I try restricting my iPod to that of only reverent music to get me 'amped'. No Jay-Z or Lady Gaga as I walk into chapel. Today I felt I needed a little extra strength to get me there, so I chose my dad's very own well written song (about my beloved, above mentioned, Pa-Pa), "The Curtain" (performed by none other than one of my hometown besties, Bryce McCormick - ladies and gentleman, he's performed at the Grammy's. He's talented to say the least.) I think Pa-Pa's spirit set the tone for the rest of my morning!
I needed him because I sometimes feel inadequate (totally put upon by myself), that ALL other Mormons have a strong testimony of what they believe and why and can articulate it on the spot. This isn't necessarily true, it's just what I feel when I'm being hard on myself.
I admire my Mormon friends' beliefs and their conviction, I'm just not as fully understanding in the doctrine as they are. Again, only something I can work on.
Today however, there was a special musical number of a very familiar song performed by a fellow member in my congregation. I've heard this song since I was 3yrs old, but it will never be the same after today. Even in Italian, this performance of 'Love One Another' moved me beyond words. It was, as they would say on Glee, a mash-up between 'Love One Another' and 'Where There is Love'. At verse two there was a line that read, "Where there is love, there too is God." I was having one of those profound moments that even in that second, you're aware you will remember for the rest of your life. I may struggle with my technical beliefs religiously, but I do have a testimony of love! I believe in love. I also believe in music (maybe because I love it?) and its power.
Thank you Pa-Pa for instilling in me an appreciation for music. Ginger Costa-Jackson's (of the Metropolitan Opera might I add) voice is a true gift from god - there's just no other way to explain it - and I hope she knows it! When service was over, I tearfully thanked her and left for Diddy's. My brain AND HEART just couldn't handle anything more and even if I'd stayed, no other meeting could have topped what had just happened to me. I wish you all could've been there to experience her talent and share in this moment with me!
Let me break it down for you, I had an Oprah "Ah-Ha" moment during her performance and on my walk over to Diddy's went into what Opie would call the "ugly cry."
To rebound from my emotional morning, I went on a shopping spree at Urban Outfitters and then bought my new favorite lipstick: Nars, Scarlet Empress. Good, GOOD Sunday!
Amen,
~Kare*
