Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Roots

I didn't expect anything special when I walked into church on Sunday with Grammy. I hadn't been to the Littleton 5th Ward since my parents left Colorado several years ago, so I figured I'd probably see a few people I knew but mostly just look around and reminisce about my high school years.

It turned out to be so much more than that. Not only did I know everyone on the program (my dear laurel adviser spoke, a boy I used to babysit was reporting on his mission, and so on), but I was also just overwhelmed with the love I felt from and for so many people -- people I haven't seen in years. People who grabbed me and hugged me with tears in their eyes; people who sat and talked to me about my life and career decisions; people who were anxious for news about my family.

I have been thinking about this ever since Sunday, about how profoundly it affected me to remember that I have deep roots in a community. As a single person in a city of transients, I have grown accustomed to constant change, to getting new roommates and new jobs and new wards almost as often as new clothes. My family has always been a constant, but on Sunday it was like I visited my village. The ward where my dad was a bishop, where people rallied around our family when Lindsay passed away and Mom broke her neck, where Zach and I left on missions and came home again, where Emily got married. I didn't realize until I was there A) that I actually had roots like that, or B) how much it meant to me. I don't know when it will be, but I'm looking forward to the next chance I have to go back.

Back to my Roots.

2 comments:

Kuya said...

I love your roots. Made me cry. So cool that you got to go and feel that.

Christi said...

I am looking from someone from that area. She lived in Englewood in 1972 and he name is Ruth Odom. I am not sure of the spelling. Don't freak out. She was neighbors with my parents and invited my mom to what my mom later found out was the modern day enrichment. My parents ended up joining the Church four years later in California, but that was their first exposure. Just trying to find Ruth and let her know... My email is cougarcrazy03 at gmail.com. Could you shoot me a line? I've tried to call the Littleton chapel and no one ever picks up the phone... ps my name is Christi-- you don't have to post this comment--i'm just trying to find someone from the area to help me find Ruth...