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Thursday, May 26, 2016

Where We Belong


I distinctly remember the feeling of walking into church that first Sunday after having filed for divorce. Holding tightly to my two year old's hand, I walked into sacrament meeting to a row near the overflow section and prayed that no one would talk to me. Nothing had changed, and yet everything had...we had been separated for months, but I had never opened up to friends or ward members about my marital struggles. That Sunday, after everything had been decided, I suddenly felt like I was wearing a huge neon sign blaring the news of all my failures and shortcomings. The absence of my wedding ring on my left hand felt shameful and embarrassing. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone would ask, and I could either choose to continue to skirt the truth with excuses - or I could face the horror of saying out loud that my dreams of eternity had come to an end. I felt vulnerable and exposed; I felt like I was wearing a huge bullseye, and I waited for the shots of judgement to hit me.

When I was in my twenties, I desperately wanted to get married and have a family. It felt like everyone around me was realizing that dream - but I couldn't seem to figure out how to get married myself. By the time I was 25, I felt like a total black sheep amongst my fellow church members. Every sacrament talk, every Sunday School lesson and every Relief Society meeting seemed to focus on the importance of family, being a mother, raising children, etc...I couldn't escape the sinking feeling that I'd never realize my FULL potential without getting married and having a family. I felt forgotten by the church curriculum - and constantly reminded of my shortcomings. It was a difficult time for me. All I wanted was to feel like I really belonged; like I belonged to another person, like I belonged within the demographic that all those lessons catered to, like I truly belonged at church.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about belonging lately. It's easy to look out across the congregation at church during a talk about the importance of eternal families, identify how many beautiful, happy, two-parent families are sitting together on pews, and to feel like the sorely out-of-place single Mom on the back row. I feel intensely aware of curious eyes, and often I feel defensive over questions or comments that I'm sure aren't meant to offend me. "Do I really belong here?" I've asked myself.

The answer has come to me in waves - and is consistently reaffirmed to me when I open my heart up to hear the truth.

I belong to God; and therefore, I belong here.

I often deny myself permission to belong. I think we all do sometimes. We find reasons to separate ourselves because of our experiences - our trauma, our burdens, our sins. We imagine that people can't understand us because the path we've walked is different than their's. We wait for money to be right, clothes, education. We wait for the right marital status. We wait for grief to pass. We wait for the right calling (or any calling). We wait for an apology we feel we're owed, or for someone to notice us.

But...what do we value most within the walls of our church buildings? Is it the friendships our children make? The supportive social network we find there? The familiarity and the organization? The spirit we feel? Are we just struggling through three hours so we can say we went..?

(If you're like me, it's probably a mix of those things depending on the day haha.)

The thing I have to remember to value above everything else when I go to church is...who I am and what I mean to God - in spite of all of my many shortcomings. Do we actively remember that the value of each soul in that building, including our own - regardless of our circumstances - is of "great worth" in God's sight? Do we take time (easier said than done with a toddler!) to connect with that truth each Sunday?

Over time, I've realized no one is judging me as harshly as I judge myself - I'm the one casting most of the judgement (taking aim and firing at my own personal bullseye over and over again). People generally don't have the time or energy to spend thinking about/judging me. And if they do? (because, let's be honest...sometimes it happens...) Well, I feel sorry for them. Their life must be pretty boring (and their understanding of who is worthy enough to judge others needs some work).

The truth is: We are known and understood perfectly by a God who knows our hearts better than we know them ourselves. He loves me (and you) not in spite of our failings, but including them. He is the creator of each strength AND weakness we have, having given us talents and flaws to help us learn and grow. He loves us; we belong to and with Him.

I don't have to be anything to belong (perfect, married, covered in children, physically beautiful, wealthy, educated)...I belong because I am His. There is no other approval, no other acceptance, no other understanding that will ever matter in light of that truth.

(Now if someone could remind me of that this coming Sunday, I'd appreciate it.)
(It comes in waves, remember?!)

Love to you all.

xo.

6 comments :

Kimberly said...

Beautiful. Thank you for your honesty and example of strength. Keep pressing on sister!

Kimberly said...

Beautiful. Thank you for your honesty and example of strength. Keep pressing on sister!

Unknown said...

Can I just say how much I love you? Even though I am married at the age of almost 30 (gasp!) I don't have children and many times feel very out of place at church. I think you're exactly right that most of the time its us that feels out of place. I would never look at you and think twice about your situation. Its nice to know others feel the same way that I do and a great reminder that we all belong!

Unknown said...

Can I just say how much I love you? Even though I am married at the age of almost 30 (gasp!) I don't have children and many times feel very out of place at church. I think you're exactly right that most of the time its us that feels out of place. I would never look at you and think twice about your situation. Its nice to know others feel the same way that I do and a great reminder that we all belong!

Trina Anthony said...

First off this has nothing too do with your blog post.. which was amazing! (of course because its you haha) but I just had to say this... Calee! Can I just say I love you? <3 You recently came to Heber Valley Girls camp and talked to a group of girls form Ashley stake in Vernal. I was amongst those girls. I just want to say you have changed my life. You are such an inspiration! You have a beautiful heart and a fun loving personality. I loved what you said about how we are all truly children of God and we just need to ask Heavenly Father. You have a beautiful voice! We as the girls n Vernal will make your dream of becoming famous a reality! ;)

Unknown said...

I recognize I am a stranger to you. But as I have watched you on IG, etc. I've felt a kinship as I recognize a road similarly traveled. I recognize the "signs" that very few others do. A fellow sister in the very exclusive club of women whom are "young" and have been through trauma and now find themselves divorced and single parents within the gospel. I was just jokingly telling a few of our mutual friends while in Mexico, "I'm pretty sure if Calee knew me we'd be best friends." If nothing else but because we've been there. There are very few who "get it" and you just want to hug those who do. I remember having similar feelings as I went through my own beginning phases of the whole process- I'm fortunate enough to have a very well grounded Ward and have never felt judged. But I'm too busy single parenting to really care 😂. Just know we're out there- it's amazing how you really never know how strong you are until strong is all you have left. Each day is another opportunity to flex your extremely capable muscles and show them you CAN do hard things because you HAVE done hard things. You've been to the bottom, just like I have. I appreciate that tomorrow is wonderful because it holds hope. Sending all my "sista' " love your way!

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