Religious Experience X2?

So, this weekend I did a couple of new things (I tell you this is turning into quite the adventurous year). On Friday afternoon, I had an appointment for an hour in a flotation tank, sometimes called a sensory deprivation tank. I first learned of these tanks many years ago while watching The Simpsons. In the episode Make Room for Lisa, Homer screws up and agrees to do something just for Lisa. Because Lisa is having tummy troubles due to stress they opt for a trip in a sensory deprivation tank to aid in getting rid of her stress. Lisa has a magical experience, Homer not so much.

Anyway, I had my own experience this past Friday. Admittedly, I did have a hard time relaxing and figuring out my own rhythm in order to have full appreciation of the experience. The hardest part for me was when the door was closed I felt like I was suffocating. I also could hear myself breathing and really think I may have a deviated septum because it wasn't until I started breathing through my mouth was I able to fully relax and start to fall asleep, of course this was also about the time that my time was up and when the motor came on to swish the water around me it scared the dickens out of me. Prior to relaxing, though, I did enjoy the floating around in the tank pushing myself back and forth between the two side walls or up and down to pushing off from the bottom with my toes and making certain that I kept my hand above my head so as to not bang my head. Since I did this once, and I have a coupon to do it again, I will make another appointment and learn to relax earlier.

The second thing I did this weekend was visit a church. I went to visit Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church. I visited a UU church last Sunday with my folks and had actually been looking at the UU philosophy for over a decade (yeah, it takes me a long time to make a commitment). The people were really welcoming to me. As I sat in the sanctuary, one of the members of the congregation came and introduced herself to me (of course, I suck at remembering names and can't remember her's) she then 'ordered' me to scoot over a seat and she sat with me and talked with me and introduced me to others as they came in. It felt really great to be that welcomed. I mean, they start their welcome in both the bulletin and as the start of the service with the following:

Whoever you are, whomever you love, you are welcome here. You may be young or old, rich or poor and you are welcome here. Whether you walked in with assistance or have special needs, you are welcome here. And regardless of your religious or ethnic origins, you are most welcome here! We are glad you have joined us in our celebration of religious community.  

We do not ask what you believe, nor expect you to think as we do. Rather, our community encourages its members to pursue the deepening of their own religious conviction. This liberal church is united, not by creed, but by a common purpose to embrace the compassionate wisdom of all ages and cultures, in order to realize a community of love, peace, and justice for all. 

The current minister of the church is on sabbatical, so the congregation is having visiting ministers come in and speak. This week was a former member of the congregation who became ordained and now has her own church in Canada. I have to say that today was the most entertaining and enlightening church experience that I think I have ever had. The topic of today's sermon was "Sex" and I'll leave it at that. I feel strongly about this new path that I exploring; all the way down to the affirmation that speaks to the philosophy of this church:

Love is the doctrine of our church,
The quest for truth is its sacrament,
And service is its prayer,
To dwell together in peace,
To seek knowledge in freedom,
To server humanity in harmony with the earth,
Thus do we covenant together. 

I'll keep you informed of my quest.

Vatican's 10 Commandments for drivers

I came across this article on Yahoo! this morning and it just floored me. (To see the whole article go to: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_road_rage)

My favorite part is the fact that we now have 10 additional Commandments that are focused solely on driving:

1. You shall not kill.... Duh, didn't we already have this one?
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.... Can somebody explain this one to me? "A means of communion" the only time I commune with others on the road is when I look in the mirror and can tell they are listening to the same radio station I am because they are singing along!
3. Courtesy, uprightness, and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events..... Is this supposed to be only for driving? And, if so, how can "courtesy" help me deal with the jerk on the cell phone that swerves into my lane?
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, expecially victims of accidents.... I would, but blook makes me a little woozy, besides I do try to allow ONE person to merge in front of me when an accident has blocked the lane.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.... What does the Vatican think we are doing with our cars - "an occasion of sin"?
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.... Again, duh - take the keys away from the drunks!! Isn't there a whole other campaign focused on this? Does the Vatican REALLY need to jump on board?
7. Support the families of accident victims.... Okay, but does this have to be a Commandment?
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness..... Yeah, hold your breath for that one!!
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.... WTF?
10. Feel responsible toward others.... How can anybody command how I am supposed to feel, especially towards others? You can command how I am to act toward others, but you can't command my feelings!!

So, those are the Vatican's Ten Commandments for Drivers. So, here are some additional questions that I have....

1. Are these sin-worthy commandments?
2. If so, what would be the punishment... 10 Hail Marys and wash the Bishop's car?
3. Do I have to include these in my confessions now? "Forgive me Father for I have sinned. I have had impure thoughts four times, I coveted my neighbors ass (as in donkey) twice, and I was not courteous when the truck driver cut me off on the on-ramp."
4. And finally, how big of a sin is it to break the Driver's Ten Commandments while using the Lord's name in vain, because if any of you have EVER driven with me, you pretty much know that I cuss like a sailor when driving!!