Seven

Being Catholic, I attend confession twice a year...probably should more, but it's really only an obligation before Christmas/Easter. Expressing your sins and faults is very difficult, especially when you're telling them to a Priest who typically doesn't do anything wrong. Some people find that confessing your sins is silly and stupid. Well, my view is that God sees/knows when you commit a sin. There's just something different about actually admitting it out loud for someone else to hear. No one wants to tell another person the things they do wrong. Before confession, I am almost a basket case- scared half to death, even though my sins are probably along the lines of the everyday Jane Doe. One time, I walked in, kneeled down, and proceeded to list my sins. Running short on things to say since my memory was so jumbled, I say, "and I've committed gluttony". You learn of gluttony from the 7 Deadly Sins (Lust, Vanity, Jealousy??, etc). You all remember the movie with Brad Pitt and Gwenyth Paltrow. The following morning when I was eating with my mom and grandma, they began poking fun since I always eat so much. First off, I can't resist homemade tortillas, rice, etc from my grandma. I fire back, "Just so you know, I confessed gluttony last night." They look at each other and break into laughter. I guess I really shouldn't have confessed that because my BMI is appropriate, and I exercise often. To be gluttonous, I probably would need to be around 450lbs and feel no guilt about the things I eat. Then, I became pretty embarrassed thinking about what the Priest thought when I said I had committed gluttony. Hahahha. Sometimes my thoughts are way illogical.

Many people think that every sin is equal. I do not believe that. I do believe in Purgatory ( where you go when you die to make your way up to Heaven). I don't feel that I have earned the right to go straight to Heaven. I'm sorry I just don't see how using the Lord's name in vein or yelling at your parents is the same as being Ted Bundy. Missing church is not a mortal sin, in my opinion. There are a lot worse things that people do. Think about it: if you went into confession and said you cussed a lot, had a negative attitude, and missed church a few Sundays, as opposed to I have had thoughts about killing someone, I committed adultery, and I stole lots of money from my sister- the penance would be different.

The first time I ever got pulled over was the end of my freshmen year at college in the dorm parking lot!!! (Knock on wood, it's my only time to be pulled over too...I'll probably get a ticket on my way home for saying that). Anyway, I lived in the freshmen dorms and was headed to the sorority house on a Thursday night. I like to act like Jeff Gordon sometimes, so I'll probably was a little speedy gonzalez. As soon as I pull in, I see blue lights! In a huge panic, I unbuckle my seat belt off (Why you ask? I DON'T KNOW!) My next ridiculous thought was, "He'll think I wasn't wearing my seat belt", so I hop out of the car!! Over the microphone or whatever that thing is, the policeman says "Get back in the car!!" HAHAH...He walks up to my car saying I was driving too fast. (I had barely even driven a mile!) He says he's surprised I haven't been pulled over before. As natural protocol, he checks my VIN #. Upon his return, he says your car is not showing up. Did you get a paint job? JUST GREAT-I'm about to get falsely charged with grand auto theft. "No sir, my car has been white since I bought it"...he goes back to the car...by this time, another officer has arrived and his shining that huge magnum light in my backseat! WHAT! Turns out, my car used to be black, but I didn't know that. (I should have used CAR FAX!) He lets me go with a warning, and drives on. To top that, the fraternity house right beside my sorority house is having a huge party. When I finally get out of my car, everyone yells "MEGAN! What happened?!" Hahah....OH LIFE!