I was awakened this Sunday morning by a phone call from my girlfriend, Lori, who reminded me that we were supposed to be leaving for church in a half-hour (I had slept through my alarm). The idea to visit different churches around the area on my motorcycle was born from a desire to explore southern religious beliefs (the Father), my own spirituality (the Son), and the beautiful countryside of Western Carolina (the Holy Spirit)--a Trinitarian sociology experiment of sorts. Fitting, then, that
the first church on the docket was the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville. We took 176 through Tryon and up the Saluda Grade (site of the steepest railway climb in the country), then continued on past Flat Rock to the town of Hendersonville. Growing up I attended the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, NY, from age 6 until some point in High School when smoking weed on Sunday mornings seemed like a better option than going to youth group. Maybe it was the teenage short term memory loss, but I learned more in one hour about the origin of the Unitarian Universalist faith this Sunday morning than I did in ten years of attending church as a kid. The term Unitarian originates from the Biblical interpretations of a man named Michael Servetus, a "heretic" who managed to piss off both the Protestants and Catholics during the Reformation with his penchant for exercising freedom of conscience. He was ultimately burned at the stake for his belief that there was one God, not three separate manifestations of God as put forth by the overwhelming Trinitarian majority of the time. Based on language alone, I like thinking of God as "unity" rather than "trinity". The congregation did not
disappoint. Though we were two of only four individuals who weren't invited to Waffle House for the Senior Special after the service, we were welcomed with open arms and invited for coffee in the Fellowship Hall. One of the other younger attendees, Zach, is a theater teacher at East Henderson High, and we talked about theater around the area and the local professional theater in Flat Rock, where they are currently doing a production of Rent. Who knew the South had so many open-minded Christians! We stopped for brunch at Patty Cakes, a cute little cottage-style restaurant recommended to us by Don the Motorcycle-Riding Minister from Montana. I had the Shit on a Shingle (look it up!) and Lori ate a salad. Our return trip took us back through Saluda and down the BEAUTIFUL Greenville Watershed, where the overhanging trees and suicidal butterflies conjured up images of Peter Pan's Neverland. We continued through South Carolina on 11 West (sticking to the speed limit of course!) until we hit Route 9 and took it back up to Mill Spring where the bike, Lori, and I all rest our heads.
the first church on the docket was the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville. We took 176 through Tryon and up the Saluda Grade (site of the steepest railway climb in the country), then continued on past Flat Rock to the town of Hendersonville. Growing up I attended the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, NY, from age 6 until some point in High School when smoking weed on Sunday mornings seemed like a better option than going to youth group. Maybe it was the teenage short term memory loss, but I learned more in one hour about the origin of the Unitarian Universalist faith this Sunday morning than I did in ten years of attending church as a kid. The term Unitarian originates from the Biblical interpretations of a man named Michael Servetus, a "heretic" who managed to piss off both the Protestants and Catholics during the Reformation with his penchant for exercising freedom of conscience. He was ultimately burned at the stake for his belief that there was one God, not three separate manifestations of God as put forth by the overwhelming Trinitarian majority of the time. Based on language alone, I like thinking of God as "unity" rather than "trinity". The congregation did not 
disappoint. Though we were two of only four individuals who weren't invited to Waffle House for the Senior Special after the service, we were welcomed with open arms and invited for coffee in the Fellowship Hall. One of the other younger attendees, Zach, is a theater teacher at East Henderson High, and we talked about theater around the area and the local professional theater in Flat Rock, where they are currently doing a production of Rent. Who knew the South had so many open-minded Christians! We stopped for brunch at Patty Cakes, a cute little cottage-style restaurant recommended to us by Don the Motorcycle-Riding Minister from Montana. I had the Shit on a Shingle (look it up!) and Lori ate a salad. Our return trip took us back through Saluda and down the BEAUTIFUL Greenville Watershed, where the overhanging trees and suicidal butterflies conjured up images of Peter Pan's Neverland. We continued through South Carolina on 11 West (sticking to the speed limit of course!) until we hit Route 9 and took it back up to Mill Spring where the bike, Lori, and I all rest our heads.
For anyone to explain the concept of the Trinity in language that is used here on Earth would probably minister unbelief to me. It is an essential supernatural mystery that can only be revealed. Hey - it's baby steps for me too...~ BL
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