BEAUTIFUL!!! Happy Easter, Sydney: Day 25

This Easter was Magic. 

Truly. 

Woke up late and went to the Church here. It was a new Chapel. And their Mission statement was pretty awesome. They don't judge anyone and welcome ALL. 

And boy do they ever :) 

Ya see...

I got all dressed up. 

Bc where I come from in Staten, you better look classy on Easter or ya gonna get some nasty looks in church. 

Not very Christian, I know, but it is what it is. 

So...I wore a black sheath with lace sleeves. Kinda looked like an old Italian woman grieving. Perfect Easter Sunday dress with pastel sandals. I was almost skipping to church Bc I was happy! 

I walked in. 

It's a tiny chapel with a row of seats in a circle. There were about 7 people sitting in the first row. The minister welcomed me and asked my name. Graham is the minister. He had a warm smile and said to take a seat anywhere I liked. I sat down in the middle at an empty spot. Not too soon after three men came in and 2 sat next to me and the third looked baffled like I was sitting in his seat. It appeared like they were all regulars and I was the odd man out. 

The man to my left didn't smell, Easter fresh. None of the men were dressed in suits. It was a group of misfits. Pretty sure the man to my left was an ex junkie, the guy to his left was simple. The man who I stole his seat had a scar down the front of his head, his name was Dave. Looked as if he might have had brain surgery which left him impaired. 

I thought to myself, Do I leave? This is like having Easter mass with all the homeless dudes hanging out in Penn Station. 

Not what I pictured it would be at all!!! 

I stayed. 

Bc...

Jesus hung out with prostitutes, criminals, & lawyers. 

Who was I to judge?!?!

Graham began the service with a prayer. It was beautiful. 

He turned to his constituents and asked if they had anything to be grateful for this Easter? 

Lots of different responses.

Dave was grateful for Music. Bc music saved him. Also, he is grateful that he remembered every tune for the am mass where he played the organ at another church nearby. 

The man to my right was grateful that he washed his face and his feet and hands. He did not wash his mouth or his teeth. 

Bob was grateful that his back pain stopped hurting him so much. 

And the rest were silent. 

Graham asked me to share. I told them I was grateful to all of them for allowing me into their mass and for all of the amazing people I have met in my travels thus far. I have been blessed. 

Dave asked my name over and over again. I would tell him and he would say it wrong. And the rest of the men would yell at him the correct pronunciation. Then they asked where I came from and I told them NYC. 

It was adorable. 

Child like wonder. 

Just raw beauty. 

My heart swelled. 

I cried multiple times during the service Bc it was just so beautiful. 

Then we each read a verse from the Bible about the two Mary's finding Jesus' tomb empty. And Jesus said "Do not be afraid."

That line made me cry more. 

Bc...

Fear is all I have been feeling lately. 

Exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. 

Graham said it's time for Peace and we all walked around and shook hands. 

The man to my left would stop and put a chocolate Easter egg in his hand before shaking each persons hand. He got such a kick out of it! 

I told him the Easter Bunny didn't come so I was extra grateful for the candy. He told me he knew where to get more. 

Throughout the service three of the men would get up to play the piano, guitar and bongos. Dave was a really good piano player.

At the end of each song Dave would turn to the other two men and tell them how great they played. 

They did play great together. But were terrible and terribly off beat, loud and the sound system screeched from the guitar. 

The sound didn't matter. 

What mattered was the JOY on these men's faces. 

Again...

Beautiful. 

Just gorgeous. 

Today, Can you see the Beauty in the Ugly?!?!

Is it possible to have fun anywhere you are? Or does it have to LOOK a certain way?!

It's a beautiful gift to be reminded that in the raw and ugly can be found gorgeous.

Xoxo

Ps: I left the church and went to the beach. Then home to make Easter Dinner :)))