A few photos, a few words, and a bit of synchronicity...
"Coincidences may seem strange, but they are never a result of caprice. They are orderly laws in the spiritual life of man [or women]. They affect and influence our lives profoundly."
~Norman Vincent Peale
I went on a bike ride this morning through Buffalo's East Side. This is not unusual, I do this relatively frequently as I enjoy the history. And some of my own family's personal history as well. But I'm jumping ahead as I often do. All of these are shot on Genessee Street, which is a main corridor through the East side. Both sides of my family lived on streets off this street at some point. The image below is of the Baltimore Fish and Oyster Company, which one of my aunts operated in the 60's and 70's. And above is the small wooden church that my family--including me as an infant--worshiped at. Ahh, but I'm jumping ahead again. Sorry. I'll start over. This morning I slept in and missed worship at the church of which I am currently a member. I had intended to go but it just didn't happen. So I went out for coffee and did a bit of journaling. And as I wrote I reflected on how today--the second Sunday of Advent--was the anniversary of my returning to church regularly as an adult (it's been 10 or 12 years I think). I don't want to get into my personal stuff too greatly, but I was thinking of how finding my way to this church, particularly our meditation group, has had such an incredible effect on my life...and in many respects actually saved it. Anyhow, being in a reflective mood I thought I would go for a ride and take some photos. And then I found myself standing in front of the above church. As I stood peering through my view finder, it dawned on me that--given my birthday is in November--it was likely around this time that as an infant my parents first started to take me to church...this church. So after snapping a few photos and lowering the camera I stood there on this brisk December morning and pictured the neighborhood back then and my parents with their three little children entering the church (I am one of four...my younger sister would not have been born at this time). Alright, so I'll cut to the chase. I thought of this on the ride home, and arriving there I checked some family records. As it turns out it was on this date 53 years ago that I was in fact Baptized in this church. So I can only ask myself (and the Universe), what led me to this church today to take photos...more than five decades after my baptism but on the same day. And what led me to my current church on this day 10 or 12 years ago. Anyhow, my head is starting to hurt. I'll get of my New Age soapbox now. Enjoy the photos.
Urban Simplicity.
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