Pragmatic Reasons to Join a Local Church

Ideally, people should choose a religion based on intense research, study, and prayer.  Ideally.  But what motivates my generation is much different than what motivated my ancestors two hundred years ago.  So, let me discuss here some practical and pragmatic benefits of attending a local church in your community.

1. An obvious one, a sense of community.  I commute to work each day.  If I didn't attend church in my community, I would know no one in my area.  I now care and hear more about local politics, school board issues, and things relevant to the town I live and pay property taxes in.
2. An outgrowth of #1 -- no matter how many times my mailbox gets cut down or someone graffitis on my sidewalk, I am reminded each Sunday that there ARE good people in my community.  This, in-turn, convinces me not to move out to an area and a home I cannot afford, saving me thousands of dollars and a mountain of debt.
3. Babysitters!!  If you don't have family nearby, a church provides a whole new list of people to get to know better, who just might be convinced to watch your little ones when you need a break.  Or, other young families who you can swap babysitting with.
4. Service.  Who can't go to church and notice someone who needs an extra hand?  Or hear of someone in need of household essentials -- and you have extra chairs in your garage (clearing your garage).  Or an elderly person who needs some bushes cut (exercise).  If I didn't go to church, it would be much more difficult to find these opportunities to serve -- with a full-time job and Saturdays spent catching up on household stuff.  Even if you don't like extra labor on your "To Do" list, many companies are now expecting volunteer work of their employees as a way to market their companies to who else -- but the local communities!!
5. Let's dig deeper -- your children learn to sit still and listen to an adult before they go to kindergarten.  A good thing, if you actually want them to get an education.
6. YOU are reminded how to sit still without a computer in front of you.  And even if you don't listen to the speaker (not advised), you at least get an hour of "quiet time" to think about anything you need to ponder on --- if you don't have your kids climbing over you.
7. Recommendations to local restaurants, and the "right" teachers and schools.
8. Church socials are great inexpensive family activities.
9. Church potlucks are an easy way to get your kids to try new foods -- well, maybe.
10. Friends who DON'T work with you.
11. Details on the local politics can be gleaned from conversations at the church socials.  Now you can actually have some idea who all those people are on the local ballot that may or may not provide a statement in the ballot.
12. And as that hideous day is fast approaching --- donating to a local church is a great tax write-off!

So, walk in, sit down, and get to know people for the most pragmatic and practical reasons.  Maybe, in a few months, you'll find other, less practical reasons to stay.

Letting Yourself Go

You know you've "let yourself go" when:

• You paint your fingernails and your 4-year-old shouts, "MOM! WHAT did you do to your fingers?!!!!!????"
• Your bank rejects an online purchase for hosiery as obvious fraud
• Your co-worker compliments you on how your hair looks, asks you what's different, and you say, "No conditioner today."

I reject the term "she let herself go".  How sexist!  How degrading!  I prefer the term "a different stage of life".  I mean, if I've showered, have clean clothes -- ironed if possible, and can manage to get out the door without spit-up on my shirt -- I've already been a success that day.  (Notice there's no reference to what I look or smell like at the end of the day.)