Today in church....

...as service had ended, I found myself exiting in normal fashion amongst the crowd of other church goers. The church I go to is fairly big, and I usually sit upstairs in the upper balcony section. Making my way to the stairwell so I could take the steps down to the floor level, I found myself meeting up with a young man who was making his way to the stairwell, from the lower balcony section. It didn't take me long at all to realize upon first glance, that I was now walking next to Denzel Washington. Let me say this...the church that I go to is sometimes referred to as 'the church of the stars.' Generally, celebrities and pseudo-celebrities are seated in a section of the church on the floor level, not too far from the pulpit, which I'm quite sure is reserved for them. I had seen Denzel in church on a couple of occasions before - one time as he actually came in with his family sometime after services had already started, and again sitting in lower balcony sections seats not too far from me. Leaving today and noticing him, salt & pepper hair, wearing his Sunday best, humming a little, and just casually walking out amongst the rest of us, I'm realizing that although he knows who he is, and everyone else knows who he is, he doesn't at all try to make a big deal about it. Cool brother! I guess there's a reason that he's so well liked by everyone. I mean, I was right next to him walking out. So close, I wanted to shake his hand and tell him to take care of himself, because I would be working with him one day...

...and during church today, they had a guest choir sing. It was the Tokyo Mass Choir. They were pretty good, but what I'll always remember today about the TMC, was the young lady soloist who performed a selection for which I can not remember the title. What I do remember was that the girl could sing her ass off. She sang like she was black. In fact, if you were to listen to her blindfolded, you would be sure that she was black. It's a shame I don't know her name. Maybe I'm making a bigger deal of this than it probably should be, but how many times does a Japanese choir step into a mostly black church, and then a Japanese soloist steps on stage and tears it up? Not often. When she was done, I gave her a standing ovation, as others in the church did as well. Those who didn't stand to give her a well earned ovation were probably hating on her just because she was Japanese. I, however, found myself so appreciative of her performance, that not only did I give a standing ovation, I was driven to speak on her performance...have you ever been in church, and let something slip from your mouth like you were on the phone with one of your friends? Well it happened with me today, as this young soloist finished her performance. I don't remember the exact words, but when I stood, I think I could've said something to the effect of, "that shit was hot!" I didn't yell it or anything, but it spilled from my lips on to myself, and POSSIBLY some other people who could've been within extreme earshot of me. And if anyone of them is reading this right now, I would just like to extend my apologies to the children of the boys and girls club of Hollywood...No, I'm just playin'.....I was a bad boy in church today. Does this mean I'm going to hell now?