Lutheran Buddhist

I'm a baptized Lutheran.  So is my sister, we were baptized at the same time at True Light Lutheran Church in Chinatown (where I married).  I found our baptismal papers when cleaning out my Dad's photographs recently.

We were raised with no religion.  Baptized, then never went to church, other than two times on Girl Scout Sunday at True Light where the scout meetings were.  It enthralled me-- I always wondered what happened at church, now I knew.  How do you read the Bible, how do you know how to look up the verses, how do you know when to sing or sit or kneel?

Years later I became good friends with Grace, the Pastor's daughter when we went to college together. We had grown up together through girl scouts.  I always thought she was so cool, big dimples, big smile, Queen of the Church court.  She encouraged me to go to Midnight mass one year because the church was all lit up and beautiful  I did with my Mom and forget if my sister and brother came.  Later my Mom said she felt awkward as all her old friends starred at her for not seeing her at church for years.  Thought she was a "once a year Christian".

I've never considered myself Lutheran but I've never considered myself Buddhist either.  My grandmother was a devote Buddhist.  I would love to go to the temple with her, watch her pray, put on the long robe, light incense, put oranges and gladiolas on the alter.  The "Fot Sher", the Monk would always give me candy, and since I was the only kid there, always got special attention.  Also he spoke English and my Grandmother didn't.

Years later, a co-worker from Taiwan, very into Buddhist studies explained the differences between Christianity and Buddhism over a ten minute walk to a dinner.  Can you believe the history of two epic religions over 10 minutes?  It was only then that I realized I practiced a lot of Buddhist customs/beliefs, and helped to explain some of things my grandmother did.  For example, Buddhists don't kill and she would always call us to come if she saw a cockroach--to come and kill it so she wouldn't.  I remember her so fondly sitting in her chair praying with her beads.  Aw may aw fut.....or something like that.  Had no idea what she was saying.

We didn't raise our kids with any religion.  I hope they find the same sense of humanity, respect for people and love of cultures that David and I have.



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