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Not your average church lady


I spent this morning at Bible Study Fellowship where I'm a group leader. This afternoon, I spent 2 1/2 hours online shopping for supplies for a simulcast we are hosting at our church. More specifically, the simulcast is sponsored by our women's ministry - the ministry I volunteered to lead about a year ago. And then later this afternoon, I emailed & texted & called about a fundraising event our women's ministry is hosting in about 3 weeks. I had a conversation with our Pastor this evening. And just a short while ago, I worked on my Bsf lesson (while sipping my Cabernet).

And it hit me - a comical thought if there ever was one ...
I've become the church lady!!

Now isn't that special!
And crazy??!!

The 20-something Kathleen Bowen is certainly rolling over in her boozy or hung-over stooper and saying something like "What? Are you crazy? I haven't been to church in a really long time!"

And while I'm a long way from THAT 20-something version of myself, I'm certainly NOT your average church lady.

I say inappropriate (often funny) things. And sometimes they're even said in church or Bible study.

I enjoy my glass or two of wine. White in the summer and red the other 10 months (hey, I live in Michigan!).

I laugh at bawdy jokes. Watch TV shows with a MA rating (House of Cards, Law & Order SVU, Orange is the New Black) and read a lot of non-Christian literature. I'm politically liberal and a feminist (and think if Jesus were here now that he would be also).

Yet, here I am in leadership roles in church and studying the Word. The church lady.

And grateful to be here at this time in my life.
And that is special!

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