Been visiting churches in my town lately. Three so far: a popular non-denominational evangelical church, a historical Catholic church, and a small Methodist church. For most of my life, I've been pretty allergic to religion and continue to be a bit skeptical. I remember reading Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone a while back, and it still haunts me, oddly more so after having moved to a small town. One striking example for me is organized protests for national issues in a town of 4,000 people but rarely (if ever) for local, arguably more impactful issues.

Each visit had a very different feel. The Methodist church was a small, close-knit, silent-generation community. When it was time to voice "celebrations and struggles," a woman stood to talk about a meeting for anyone struggling with their utility bill before an older gentleman stood to announce his first-ever overseas vacation and wondered if anyone would like to water his plants while he was gone. The Catholic church had a similar makeup but, like most Catholic churches, was very focused on tradition, making it feel somewhat distant. Afterwards, I did run into people at the local coffee shop, which made that experience a little more familiar. The evangelical church was the most well-attended, modern, and diverse. They celebrated outreach, upcoming activities, and the pastor was relatable and compelling. It was teaming with children, likely because of all the child care support. I ended up spending an hour with the pastor later in the week to get to know him. Attendance, to my surprise, had been steadily increasing. He spoke about how tricky it's been to navigate politics, often trying to stay in the messy middle while seeking higher ground.

I'll likely continue to visit more churches because the experience has been positive, even the overarching message each pastor or priest has attempted to provide: forgiveness in the most difficult circumstances, showing up for others in need, and love for people, not things. Simple reminders that seem to bring people together.