Unspoken Connection

I didn't grow up in the "Bible Belt." I didn't go to school with anyone who went to my church. I would say the majority of the people I have known and do know are not members of the Church of Christ or any church for that matter. When I meet someone and the question of religion or church comes up I am either explaining about the Church of Christ to someone who has never heard of it or I am on the defense......No, we don't have instruments, No I don't believe members of the CoC are the only people going to Heaven, Yes, Sunday morning/night and Wednesday night, Yes, I know that is a lot of church time for one week, yadda, yadda, yadda. When you do find someone, out of the blue, that has also grown up in the CoC it is so nice to have that unspoken connection with them. Of course you have to get past the big questions like clap?, praise team?, small groups? Harding, Freed, or ACU? and the occasional kitchen? :-) But, even if those answers are different, there is still an underlying connection.

Today at school while chit chatting with a 4th grade teacher I had that experience. Quickly it went from Where did you and Jon meet (Church Camp) to What church do you go to (Rolla Christian but grew up CoC) and then BAM!! She has a "SHUT-UP" moment and informs me that the 3rd grade teacher she rides with goes to a CoC and even graduated from Searcy, Arkansas (Harding I corrected). At that point I had my own "SHUT-UP" moment and informed her I graduated from Harding too. Then we found out that they both play in the Ne-o-tez golf tourney and the CFS golf tourney, the 3rd grade teacher attends Lafayette CoC. The rest of the afternoon, well during her kids' bathroom breaks and stuff, there was much discussion from different people we knew, how we knew them, all the way to Accapella. It's amazing how one conversation (spoken and unspoken) can change a relationship so much.

BTW, I realize that I used a capital "C" for Church in Church of Christ, and also CoC for Church of Christ, that is the way I have always written it, if you have issues with it.....get over yourself!! :-)