Blessed

At a funeral mass today, I went up during communion, arms crossed, unsure what to expect. I’ve been to Catholic churches where, as a non-Catholic, I was unwelcome. The usual experience is a reluctant pat on the head and an unintelligible  muttering about the blessing of Christ.   Today, the deacon palmed the entire top of my head firmly and declared my blessing. And looked me right in the eye when he was done. Amen and amen, people. That’s how you do church.