boston commoner.

welcome home

I visited the International Baptist Church of Boston for the first time back in March of this year. It was a dry, fridgid day in the city; what should normally have been a short, pleasant walk from the subway station to the old brick school building in which the church held its Sunday worship service seemed more like a long and painful death in an arctic wind-tunnel. I walked in the wrong direction that Sunday. Twice. So the walk took a little longer than it ought have, anyway. By the time I made it in, I was once again cursing skirts and hoes and heels and long hair, my own of which was now wrapped in some massive, gravity-defying web of snarls around my head, thanks to the wind. But I made it indoors, brushed the tangles out before anyone could see them, cursed static electricity instead, and then tried to look pleasant as I made my way into the “main hall” (a small inner foyer where people meet between Sunday School and the regular service for food and fellowship).

I’m usually a little shy when initiating myself into a pre-established group of people for the first time. I usually prefer to stand at a distance for the first few meetings and observe, to get an idea of what people are like before I’m thrown into conversation with them, to have time to mentally prepare. But I’m finding that the more I get involved in ministries of various sorts, the less possible it is to opt to stand on the sidelines or disappear into the crowd until I’m comfortable enough to step out on my own terms. And I was quick to find out that the group at IBCB was small, but uncompromisingly friendly. I was immediately spotted by Pastor Bill, and then introduced to his wife, Deb, who refused to let me off the hook until I agreed to join them and another member at their home for lunch that day. Deb is the kind of person who is gifted in hospitality, and manages to make invitations without being pushy. She is utterly sincere and real. I immediately liked her, so she didn’t have to press hard. (more…)

Well, the apartment is coming along. Over the holiday weekend, I managed to move in a rather large futon without putting any holes in the stairwell walls (I’m on the third floor of my building); I also brought lots of pumpkins, which are now strewn about my floor and table tops and looking nice and homey. On Wednesday I went on a huge shopping spree at Pier1 and found the perfect rug, drapes and throw pillows and some nice (sale-priced) chairs so that people can sit down when they come over, which is always nice. It’s coming together, and as soon as I move those chairs and some other odds and ends in, I hope to post some pics.

It’s fun to have a new place. Or, any place, I should say, as it is my first. It’s been a year since I returned from Europe. I wasn’t originally planning to stay around Boston for so long. To be honest, I thought I’d be back in Greenville by now getting my Master’s degree in English. As it is, I was all set to go back in January. (more…)