We Are Family

A middle-aged woman held the door open for me with a sickeningly-fake smile. I immerged into a large foyer that smelled of fresh paint and plaster. The "welcome counter" that stood before me somehow managed to make itself very uninviting.
I looked to my left: video game consoles and highly-priced televisions were trapped in protective cases. Seven, maybe eight of them, lined two walls. I could practically feel the cold tiles of the floor through my black flip-flops.
The far corner boasted a cafe, complete with tables and chairs.
"I just need you to fill this out, please. And here's a ticket. You'll need to hang onto that. They will be having a drawing later."
Her shirt let me know that she was staff. I filled out the "first time visitor" slip and handed it to the lady just behind the counter.
I could hear loud music finding its way through closed doors to the greeting area.
"Hey, I'm Johnny." He held out his hand toward me. Again, an obvious staff member.
I shook his hand and gave him my name, knowing he would forget it within the next five minutes.
Johnny opened a door and led me and my friends into what seemed to be a concert. The lights were dimmed, making it hard to recognize my surroundings. A stage in front of me shelved a band composed of two guitarists, a bassist, drummer, keyboard player, and a singer. A mass of teens crowded the pedestal leaving me to only imagine what the performers looked like from the waste down.
Although it was dark, lighting effects lit up the front of the auditorium. As the band began to play blue, red, green, and white lights shone into my eyes throughout the music, but hardly lingering in my face, only to move onto the next unsuspecting pair of eyes.
Different shapes were cast on the walls, bouncing from place to place throughout the band's performance.
Hands were lifted high into the air. Heads with eyes closed were facing the ceiling.


I do not know this place.
I do not know these people.
I do not ask the same questions.
I do not feel comfortable.

I do worship the same God.