We extend a special welcome to those who are single, divorced, remarried, gay, trans, filthy rich, dirt poor, y no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Taylor Swift or if you can’t carry a tune in bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re Catholic, Baptist, Muslim, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like organized religion (we’ve been there too). If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, can’t work, can’t spell, or came because grandma is in town and she wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts…and you! (If any part of this statement offends you…you’re welcome too!)
O P E N M I N D S , B I G H E A R T S
