Rita's Reflections: Finding our confidence on life's journey

Besides offering occasional feedback and suggesting books that might interest me, Mark and I realized it’s a small world when he invited me to his church. He and his wife attend Faith United Methodist, the former First United where Larry and I got hitched.

As part of the evangelism team at First, I welcomed new visitors. I am basically an introvert masquerading in an extrovert’s body. Approaching strangers was not something I was comfortable with, but I forced myself out of my comfort zone to answer the call.

Despite being together for almost half a century, I still don’t feel the confidence that Larry sees in me. I am blessed to have what female country singer Jo Dee Messina sings about. I have a man that walks beside me, not in front of or behind me. Since it is easier to hold hands walking side by side, Larry and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I checked out a few churches to see if my square-peg personality might fit somewhere other than the faith I was raised in. Maybe I expected too much, but I was not impressed. It had nothing to do with the denomination, the preaching or the glorious praise music. They all felt cliquish. Like the cool kids were wondering who let the nerd in.

One pastor chastised his flock during announcements, “If you think you are going to sit in a pew and not get involved in our church’s ministry, think again. “Since I had no idea what his or their ministry was other than boasting they are family-friendly, I never thought about going back.

If I had not been a softball player, I doubt I would have felt comfortable trying to fit in at church. I have many fond memories of playing on the first women’s softball team. We were a mix of experience and inexperience. What we lacked in skills, we made up with hustle and heart.

It was at first practice I met the team. I was playing centerfield and a bit rusty. Being a newbie, I didn’t want to appear to be a ball hog, but I wanted to show them what I could bring to the team. Naturally, the first ball hit in my direction, I promptly misplayed, and my potty mouth uttered a bit too loudly, “Oh, sh*#!” Thankfully, no one made me eat a bar of soap.

If it wasn’t for the Oetting family, we wouldn’t have had many spectators. Mr. Oetting was a character and always ready with a joke and a smile. I think George was the team’s biggest cheerleader. He was certainly my favorite. George and his wife Julia were great role models as a couple and as parents.

Patty, Nancy, Kim and Kim’s son Joey sent me a selfie and a picture of the softball team a few weeks ago. It was the same picture I had in my office for years. Looking at the photo now, I look a little bit like a girly looking Ralph Macchio from "The Karate Kid." We were about the same size. We both had dark hair. And we both had a penchant for wearing headbands.

At a co-ed church softball game Larry and I were playing side by side in the outfield. Neither of us heard the other call it when a high fly ball was hit in our direction. Like the first time we met. *KABOOM* our worlds collided.

The church Newsletter referred to us as the couple still falling for each other. That’s sweet, but I guarantee I fell the hardest. First I saw stars. Then I saw planets. Then I did a faceplant back to earth.

Larry and I had one minister chase us down the church steps the first time we visited. A little extreme, but it worked. It also took a warm and welcoming atmosphere to keep us there.

— Rita Wyatt Zorn is a wife, mother, grandmother and lifetime Monroe County resident. She can be reached at 7.noniez@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Rita's Reflections: Finding our confidence on life's journey