Something as small as a card ...

After a very traumatic divorce from my Episcopal congregation and a brief time to recollect my sanity, I visited the local United Methodist Church. All in all, it was a pleasant experience, nothing profound or earth shattering happened, but it was a very comfortable experience. It was what happened afterward that really left its mark... THE PASTOR SENT ME A CARD. Nothing fancy or grand, just a short handwritten note on a simple little folded card. He thanked me for taking the time from my Sunday to worship with them and he hoped that the service provided me with spiritual encouragement for the week ahead. He said that I was welcome anytime and he hoped I would consider visiting with them again, but in the mean time if there was anything that he or the church could do for me please give him a call. Chances are it had more to do with me as a visitor than me as an individual and he probably does it for all of the people who visit his congregation, however, at that moment in time, that little card had a VERY large impact. That was in late October, I would like to say that I simply jumped right in and became a regular congregant, I didn't... as a matter of fact , I didn't return until last Sunday. But, that little card set in motion a great deal of prayer, soul searching on my part. I remembered the reason I chose to go to the Episcopal Church in the first place, and gave a lot of thought to why we kept going, and in the end , why everything fell apart. I gave a great deal of thought to the prevailing attitudes that were presented to me by the Episcopal church and its clergy and realized just how much I disagreed with them. I tried for a very long time to fit in as an Episcopalian , however it became very clear that if you are a woman and do not have an M.Div. or higher degree in something then your opinion counts for nothing . I was confirmed a Methodist as a teenager, and will now gladly return home . Thank you pastor for the card.