CHURCH
I went to the Warren Wilson College Presbyterian Church where I have been a member for 60 years. Sixty years ago church attendance was required for all students and the church was packed, yet with the occasional hymn book being dropped in protest on the floor. That was when Warren Wilson College was a junior college for mountain children who couldn’t go to college near their mountain homes. But then community colleges came to the mountains, which served the mountain children, and Warren Wilson became a more and more liberal four year college and church attendance was dropped as a requirement, but many students and staff still attended and the church was full on Sunday. But during the last 20 years church attendance has fallen and fallen here and in all mainline churches. Few staff of the college attend and few students. Now if people sat close together, ten to a row, three rows would hold the entire congregation. But we spread out. In my old age church is also a form of community, as it must be for many of the white haired attendees. It is a way to connect with others. The minister is now a woman, which I like, and the message is one of acceptance and caring for others, which I also like.
After church a half dozen of the women go out to lunch at Panera Bread and invited me along. After sandwiches at Panera three of us went to closeby Whole Foods. And then we drove home.
Not a very exciting day, but exciting enough for me.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 