FIRST COMMUNION

Do you remember your first communion? What influence did it have on you and your family? 

As Baptists, we did not have first communion as such. Naturally, there was a time when we had our first communion or as we called it the Lord's Supper. It happens after a person is baptized. For me, I was baptized at age 10. I remember that event clearly. However, my first Lord's Supper did not have that great of an impact on me or my family. Our church only celebrated communion once a month so it could either diminish its importance in someone's mind or become a special event for others. The latter was the case with my family.  Like an Easter Morning service in the USA, we made sure to be there on the Lord's Supper Sunday. 

My first time was probably in Tupã. Dad was a deacon. Therefore, he had a special part in the service; he was one of the men who passed the bread and wine (grape juice in our case). Nevertheless, I do not remember any specific one. 

The importance of the Communion increased immensely when I joined the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ. I that denomination, Communion is celebrated every Sunday. It was a vital part. We would miss it as much as a Baptist would miss the sermon.  

It has been at least 1 year since I had my last Communion. The church with my membership changed its method of serving. I did not and do not understand what needed to be done so I embarrassed myself by doing it wrong. I know that if I told a member of the issue, they would be sympathetic and even embarrassed for me. I am sure it was not their intention to embarrass anyone but it sure did. 

SHARE WHAT MAKES A GOOD FRIEND

SHARE YOUR IDEAS OF WHAT MAKES GOOD FRIENDS

As one who who had had problems making and keeping good friends, this is a hard topic. The good friends from my youth and I have grow far apart. The most recent close friends were those in CPE and in the Chaplaincy. However, my biggest issue is that it is easier for me to write a diary entry than to maintain contact with real people. My old friends just think that they still know me but I have changed and they have remained the same. So I guess the biggest suggestion I have is to maintain close contacts with friends no matter how far apart you are physically.  Call them often; write to them; be honest with them about who you are, your life experiences, your changing beliefs, the questions you are dealing with... none of which I have done. I was afraid of rejection so I was not honest so I lost my friends anyhow.

While I would like to think of myself as liberal and accepting of everyone, it is very hard or even impossible to have close friends who have beliefs, attitude toward life, and political inclinations that are drastically different than yours. This was and is my experience with Connie, my children, and most of my childhood friends. It has also made it hard to make close friends here in Columbia.  The vast majority of people in this area are extreme right wing Republicans.  I am close to been an extreme left wing Democrat.  My FaceBook page is full of post that I strongly disagree with. I have to bite my tongue most of the time... especially with you, my children. Arguing with you is just too destructive to our relationship. As pour as it is, something is better than nothing. I have already experienced nothing when I divorced your mother.