So, being Christian is only for IN the context of church?

I attend a relatively small parish that has an even smaller attendance for daily Masses. There are some regular attendees who only come for the Saturday morning Mass. We get to know each other either just by sight or by actually going out of our way to stop and speak.

For literally years, one elderly woman would come to the Saturday Mass and eventually started pausing to ask about my children, share the time of day, etc. My youngest daughter is very close friends with her elderly uncle who also comes to this Mass. Right after our current president came into power, I mentioned something about how sad it was that 65% of the Catholics voted a pro-abortion president into office. He proved his stance when he recinded all of the restrictions President Bush had put in place during his time as president. Well, this sweet, old lady reared up in indignation and snarled, "I voted for obama. He is a massive improvement over Bush!" With that, she walked off and has never spoken or smiled at me, again.

Now, you have to wonder about this. Given the obvious problems since obama came into office, does she still feel the same about her choice? Does she ever wonder if being unchristian to me and my family before Mass get forgiven because she is excessive in her prayer postures during Mass? It would seem to me that if a political choice made me turn my back on a friend because of a difference of opinion, I would rethink the situation.

I have a lot of friends who don't always agree with me on various subjects and we still enjoy each other's company. It must be a common mind set amount a lot of people with the same thoughts on the subject like the woman at church. We actually have relatives that will not talk to us unless it is necessary and treat us as if our freedom of choice in our vote somehow sends us away from the chosen 'flock'.

I've given up trying to figure this stuff out! I relish my free will in making choices and pray that I continue to do so with some research and thinking on my part. Definitely NOT a perfect person but I do try to do what is right for the now and the future.