On a recent business trip to Florida, my jet propulsion experience began with a 3:00 AM wake up call to make a 6:35 AM flight. Knowing the challenge that early rising would be on a cold January morning, my clothing for the next day was laid out and ready for me to slip on without a thought. Night transcended into a rosy dawn as the plane took off on schedule and arrived early. The first thing I noticed as I disembarked was the warm, humid air floating over me like a day at the beach. The interviews for which I had traveled progressed positively, and by the time lunch time came, I felt I had already experienced a productive day. While chatting with a potential colleague on a break before the next session, I jovially commented that I didn't wear pantyhose and high heels for just any occasion any more. We both laughed, and my conversation companion shared a powerful piece of wisdom: Nobody in Florida wears pantyhose.

Our meetings continued, but her comment gave me pause about all the assumptions we make about each other, how we think, what behaviors we choose, and especially about our spiritual beliefs. Because if nobody in Florida wears pantyhose, what do they wear? And what other fashion differences are hidden beneath long-held assumptions by those of us living in the forty-nine other states and the rest of the world? Although it is very clear to anyone who has worn pantyhose why they are not a practical garment in a hot, humid climate, my guess is that understanding variances among individual beliefs is not such a clear-cut venture, if we acknowledge those variances as existing and holding validity in the first place.

Consider for a moment the endless opportunities for worship in Christian communities in the United States. Have you ever worshipped in a church other than your own, or in a congregation from another denomination? What are some of the things you noticed that are different than your customary surroundings and practices? Was the sanctuary traditional, with pews Nike air max 90, a pipe organ, and a choir loft and stained windows at the front? Or was the worship area more contemporary, with individual chairs, wide, bright windows welcoming abundant sunshine and warmth, and a band tuning up before everyone else arrived? Settling into your seat, did the bulletin hold familiar hymns and prayers, or did you learn as you went along with the service? Were the scripture readings worded as you recalled from your last hearing, and how did the minister interpret the main points of what the scripture held? Looking around you, did you pay attention to the people gathering together to worship that day? They most likely weren't the same people with whom you normally attend church, but they are people with whom you have this one activity in common. Having come together that day, you were embodying the simple premise of the twelfth chapter of Paul's first letter to the