I’m not a church go-er but I have a church. It can be found in most large bodies of water but the shores of Lake Superior are pretty special for me. I get my Zen on there. We spent some time near Grand Marais many winters ago and listening to the shoreline ice form at night while the waves were hitting against it was very, very cool. The next day, the balmy 2 degreed or so sunshine would melt off the ice and the night time would bring it about again. This has been happening for, oh I dunno, about 10,000 years worth of winters.

I tend to stay away from churches in order to stay away from the hypocrisy many of it’s members live. Not all of them, I know a handful of people on the planet that when they tell me they’ll pray for me, I get a warm fuzzy.  Many high profile church go-ers are having a Hay Day (and getting lots of press for it, not a shock) for their OPINIONS as to why they believe good, innocent people were gunned down last week. SRSLY? Fuck you.

Now, that’s not going to make some people I care about proud. I’m sorry. I really am. But I have no other response for how I feel about these people. James Dobson? I hope there’s a special room reserved for you in Hell. It’s likely I’ll be going there too but at least I’m real. What a weighty piece of shit. (Again, I apologize to the good people who don’t cuss.) I grew up with my parents praising this man for his good work on building Christian families. This is Christian? No thanks. I”ll take my chances with the church of Nature, thankuverymuch.

Everyone had reactions to the shootings, here’s the one that spoke to me…

Be sensitive, be kind, and dangit just Love one another! Do something nice for someone else today, just because… 

Dan Ristrom

Dan is a Minneapolis musician who belongs to longtime professional entertainers Diane and Reuben Ristrom. I grew up with Diane at the helm of the Chancel Choir and she was the organist in church. Her music shines and when I am homesick for my youth, I find a church with a bangin’ organ and it reminds me of her. Anyways. I babysat Dan when he was a tyke, he was a handful. Though I haven’t seen him in years and years, I appreciated his advice and I followed it.

And just so you know “Dr” Dobson, you CAN pray in school. Anytime you want. You can also read the Bible. Anytime you want. Will they provide it? Nope. But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring it. We did not kick God out of our schools, I believe He’s probably there now. But that’s not convenient thought for the rhetoric of your hate. Carry on.