Issues

Mum called me at work today, surprisingly. She asked me the question I haven't heard for quite some time, "Have you been going to church?" I swear, the closer to God that woman walks, the better she can read minds. I haven't got the question for such a long time. A few years back I dreaded her phone calls, as picking it up would mean lying about going to church when I'm not (and feeling damn mendacious afters) or forcing myself to go and hating the ordeal. Over the years though, I settled down with my current (ex?) church, made friends, found an extended family (well, I treated them as one), got involved in activities, and stopped making excuses. Phone calls with mum would be sharing biblical knowledge and latest happenings in our churches.

"No..." I replied.
"Hmmph," she said. "I knew it. Something's bothering me to call you."
"!!!!!" (more of a reaction than a response)

I told her everything. And swore to myself that was going to be the last time I go into that room of my brain's archives. This shit exhausts me, physically and mentally. Then mum said,

"The same thing is happening to my church."
"!!!!!" (what? with Uncle Chong and Pastor Leong and the wondrously lively worship sessions?)
"We had just been confronted and challenged by our speaker last week about pretentious churchgoers."
"!!!!!" (speakers who confront -> brutally honest -> awesome)

I couldn't describe my feelings then. Elation? Excitement? That somewhere somehow, some church is going through the same test. That somewhere somehow, some church is acknowledging and fixing her problems.

"Go to another church, then."
"Ma, I don't wanna be a nomad and church-hop. I thought you taught me to face challenges and not escape from them, and the Bible did say that......."
I gave her a long sermon.

"But I just want you to be happy and grow spiritually..." (*touched*)
"... and I don't think you can find a boyfriend in your current church."
"!!!!!" (what the...)
"Maaaaaaaaaa..."

Mothers. I love mine to death.