I was really angry and probably shouldn't have taken communion that day! Some years ago, I visited a church that was a different denomination than the one of which I'm a member. When it was time to receive Holy Communion, I walked down the aisle, knelt at the altar, and held out my hands for the wafer. BUT… I didn't cup my hands properly. And the pastor gave me a look, moved past me to the next person, and returned to give me a wafer when I cupped my hands (after noticing the manner in which others placed their hands). I. WAS. FURIOUS! I dare say that I should not have taken communion. Because, in that moment, I was not in tune with the unconditional love and grace of God that this sacr
As a divinity student at Yale, I was asked to chronicle my spiritual journey and to include some of the people who had influenced me the most. We were to write a letter to one of those individuals. I choose to write to Mr. Melvin Ford, an elder from my hometown community who had long been deceased. Why Mr. Mel? Because. Because, he never told me to “hush” when I asked a thousand questions about the Bible. Because, he told my parents that I had a lot of questions and to talk with me. Because, he questioned me. Because, he opened my mind to a different way of thinking. Because, he helped me to realize that there is more than one way to think about things. Because, he reinforced what my
