| |
| Ever
wonder how many churches there are in Texas? I wish I had kept count of all I
drove past looking for Texas. Nearly as many as I've attended, the way I figure.
My "faith accompli" (I am a practicing Pedestrian) assures me that a person can
get partial attendance credit for simply driving by a church service - of any
denomination. I just didn't stop to go inside and sign the guest book or check
the "visitor" box on the little colored slip for the collection plate. It's the
thought…
Speaking of thoughts, I did manage a reverent one of those
as often as possible during my travels. And I noted the fact when I passed through
or nearby all the "holy" places in Texas - Nazareth, Bethlehem, Antioch(6), Joshua,
Jericho, Balmorhea, Hebron, Glory, Ben Hur, Paint Rock, Henderson Chapel, Bethel(4),
Bishop, Gethsemane, Blessing, Israel, James(2), Box Church, Buda (close enough),
Easter, Chapel Hill, King, La Gloria(2), Palestine, Zion Grove, Weeping Mary,
Harris Chapel, Christoval, Church Hill, Mercedes (Benz?), Henry's Chapel, Corinth(3),
Jonah, Trinity, Zion Hill(2) Corpus Christi, Godley (close enough), Mission, Omega,
Cross(2), Crown, Eden(2), Enchanted Rock, Siloam, South Padre Island, Galilee,
Mecca, Navidad, Bethany and Luckenbach. |
| Honorable
mention for "near holy place" status goes to Joy, Sugar Land, Unity, Valentine,
Purley (Bob Newsom rests there), Welfare (for my Pedestrian friends), Sunrise,
Refuge, Wesley (for my Methodist friends), Mount Pleasant(2)/Rose/Calm/Olive/Bethel/Haven,
Vanderpool (just for my family and me), Pilgrim, Sweet Home(3) Providence(2),
Star, Welcome, Harmony(4), Paradise, Sweet Union, Sanctuary, Utopia, Loving, Comfort,
Hope (for all my other friends) and Terlingua (for my Chilihead friends).
Also, to honor the memory of my very Catholic, Great-grandmother, Bessie
Dunkin, I was especially pious when in any community named for a Saint, a San
or Santa.
Once upon a time, while looking for Texas, I went so far in
my piety as to pose the following: |
| What
if…
If I had a congregation each week,
I'd pretend they were all without
clothing, I think;
(I'm kidding,
I know that's
not fair.)
But
do I have the words, can I fashion them too
into garments that fit and they'd
wear?
If each pew in the House held a very blank face,
each depending
on me for Amazing Grace;
(would the blind
trust a wretch
like me?)
Could I summon the sweetness to melt them as one,
or the power to part a
small sea?
If I had a congregation to lead,
all those spirits to
heighten and souls to feed;
(my goodness!
my children?
my flock...)
How would I get them to listen to me,
not their stomachs and stop watching
the clock?
If I had a roomful of hearts to fill,
and more than a
boatload of fears to quell;
(what lessons
to comfort?
My Lord!)
Should I steal a routine from "Saturday Night,"
or simply trust in the choir
and The Word?
And if row upon row of lives needed mending,
would
I have the strength and the faith for lending
to the unloved,
the unknowing,
the lost?
(Could I really give more than all of me,
and surrender,
no matter the cost?) |
| Thanks
to The Dallas Morning News' Texas Almanac, a constant companion while I was looking
for Texas, for the list of Places, Towns and Cities. November,
2000
Coffee Ring Journal courtesy of Rick Vanderpool
More
by Rick Vanderpool |
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