Every Tuesday is $1 taco night at a local bar here in Valparaiso. Alongside that incredible special are $2.50 bottles of Modelo and Corona, which always have me and my fellow coworkers saying, “Hell yes!” every single week. Truth be told, I really like $1 taco night because it gives me an excuse not to cook at home one night out of the week. The beer is an extra bonus, albeit a nice one!
Most of the time it’s just me and a couple coworkers who venture out after 5 to partake. Lately though, I’ve taken to inviting others along as well in an effort to spice up the conversation and maybe even foster new friendships among one another. My friend Rich has come every week for the past three weeks to savor tacos, laughter and offbeat, random conversation.
My friend Rich is also a pastor.
It’s odd. I did not grow up religious by any stretch of the imagination (my dad is an atheist and my mother agnostic), but I’ve always had pastors pegged as these sort of untouchable people that don’t mingle with “common folks.” Writing it now, I realize how incredibly silly it sounds, but it’s how I used to think. They were people who weren’t quite people. And while I always present my true self before others, I will admit that there have been times where I have given pause and thought out exactly what I was going to say next when Rich was around.
“Can I say this in front of a pastor? Will it make me a horrible person?”
I guess it’s still a little strange to me, even now. Even after three weeks of taco night and insight. Ministers are people too. They’re human. They share wisdom yet they also make mistakes. They have secular conversations about popular culture. They laugh. They have opinions. They have lives outside church.
They have friends who are regular, not-so-religious people like me.
And it’s really quite awesome to have so many friends… especially ones who like tacos as much as I do.
10 Responses to “$1 tacos with beer, coworkers and a pastor.”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
-
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Steve Dalton, Beer logos!. Beer logos! said: $1 tacos with beer, coworkers and a pastor. | Jinked http://bit.ly/4GYxCq #beer [...]
-
[...] is just for my own personal curiosity. My friend, Nichole, mentioned on her blog yesterday that she finds herself choosing her words more carefully when I’m around. [...]
Say what you will.
Currently watching on
OCRemix Favorite ocremix.org is dedicated to the appreciation and promotion of video game music as an art form.
I also love tacos. I like how you look at this. Ministers are people, but I do think the whole “cloth” thing puts them on a level that might make people nervous in social settings.
By the way, I would love for you to guest post if you’re interested. So far, none of my posters are mommies! Leah has two cats, and my guest poster today has no significant other and certainly not children.;)
Cool. Somehow I was under the impression the bulk of the people who read your blog and/or know you are moms. Still trying to think what I will right. I just got my Alima Pure samples today, so maybe a post about mineral makeup? I think you were the one who encouraged me to try mineral makeup in the first place.
You mean he wasn’t preaching at you the whole time? Who would have thought it was possible? :)
I know! I never thought it could happen. :P
I’m glad you’ve found Rich to be a real person, who is quite able to let you be yourself. We’re all travelling spiritual paths and need to be willing to allow honesty or it’s far too lonely.
Rich is one of the most personable people I know. I think that’s why we get along well and enjoy each other’s company! I hope. :D
I love being part of our dollar taco nights, Nichole! Thanks for opening the invitation to folks outside “the company.” :)
I’m not sure if I’m bummed or glad that you’re censoring yourself around me, though. On the one hand, I hope you know you can totally “be yourself” around me. On the other hand, if you feel like it’s helping you to be a better person or to make better choices with your language or something, then maybe it’s a good thing? I don’t know.
Generally, my hope is that people will just be themselves, whether I’m around or not. At our church, we’re big on the authenticity thing. No mask-wearing allowed! God sees right through them anyway, so there’s no point to wearing them, if you ask me. And half the time other people see through them, too, so we’re really just fooling ourselves. :)
BTW, I think I’ve been to 4 dollar taco nights, haven’t I?
1. You, me, Rahsaan, Christine, Matt, and your coworker from New York (who worked with Richard Simmons and got very upset about people who pirate movies).
2. You, me, Rahsaan, Christine, and Gail. (Rahsaan wasn’t feeling well, and we sat on the other side of the room.)
3. You & Christine sat at another table because Rich & Tia and a whole crew from Uptown Cafe came and filled the table I was sitting at. Rahsaan stayed by my side, though.
4. You, me, Rahsaan, and Gail.
This next week will make 5….
You’re the $1 taco night veteran!
After you & Rahsaan, of course! :)