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| No guys, guys... It's not because you're Christians. It's because you're a**holes. |
| 02.23.09 (6:27 pm) [edit] |
Good afternoon Boys and Girls,Well, I'm back. Personal stuff. Worked out, I think. Sorry. So, this morning, I awoke at 6:20 a.m. just this side of Indiana in the Michigan "welcome center" rest area after falling asleep for far longer than I'd anticipated. Got to the border around midnight last night after leaving SweetLady's in the late afternoon. I was tired. -Thought I'd rest my eyes a while after reclining my seat some, and then... in just a while... I'd.....continue........home........zzzzzzzzzzz. Right. Woke up a little chilly, but well rested after six-plus hours. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn't see out the windshield, and it wasn't because I'd fogged up the glass with my snoring. Twas ... (God, I hate to even say the damned word anymore this year...) ... snow. Used one of the newfangled waterless urinals they have in the mens' room there; urinals they're quite proud of, by the way - what with little signs affixed to the walls bragging about the amount of water each of the modern porcelain receptacles saves. (I guess we're not supposed to notice the odor, which is to say that the damn things smell exactly the way you might think five shiny white, neatly spaced and completely waterless urinals would smell. -Call it "eau'de diaper pail".) Then I walked back out to the Jeep, cleaned off the snow, and started out again. Five minutes later, the snow was so dense and made up of such huge flakes flying toward my headlights at warp speed that I couldn't see in front of me more than a few feet. I took the next exit. Minutes later, with some McCoffee in front of me, I sat in a booth toward the back of the McRestaurant, relaxing and having decided to wait till the sun was fully up before getting back behind the wheel. Figured I'd be there at least a half hour. Across and one more booth back, with Bibles ostentatiously displayed, four men and a small child spoke loudly of the faith that makes their lives worth living. I half listened. A few minutes later, two more men arrived to join the group, though they were forced to sit in a booth across from the original bunch. They too opened their bibles and prayed out loud before digging in to their McMuffins. "I'm so glad you came to break bread with us this morning," said the fellow who seemed to be running the show to the new arrivals as soon as their prayer was over. It was all very quaint. From that moment on, though, the talk didn't have anything to do with any bible verse - though everyone had their's open in front of them - but instead centered around the goings on at their church - a mega one, to be sure, since the head honcho informed everyone that this years budget was thirteen million dollars, drawing oohs and ahhs from the rest of the guys. "Yeah, it's a big place alright," assured honcho. "Last year, Pastor had to have bodyguards there for a few months after that thing was in the paper." (I didn't find out what "that thing" was. No matter.) "Yep. They did everything with him. They shadowed him as tight as they could." He nodded as he said it, to convey the seriousness of the situation and to impress upon these fellows how utterly necessary the bodyguards had been. This "being a Christian" it seemed to me he was trying to say, is a very dangerous thing indeed. Be strong. There are evil people everywhere who will either try to do you harm because of your beliefs, or, at the very least, drag you away from the path of righteousness. "Hope they didn't go into his bedroom with him and the Mrs.," said one sitting with his back to me. This drew guffaws, of course. As if to make me sure my impression had been correct - that he was doing the "we are persecuted at every turn" routine, the talk went from there, to how one of their children - a daughter of the guy who'd made the bedroom remark - was being forced to learn about evolution in school and how he and his wife were just now trying to decide whether to remove the kid from public school in favor of home schooling. The whole table full, plus the other two across the isle, shook their heads sympathetically and that topic became a jumping off point for what they ought to do about the schools. Then eventually, in perfect circular logic fashion, the talk swooped back to how ostricized they all are for having their beliefs; how the struggle gets harder every day, and how - once again, of course - eventually, the government won't allow Christians to BE Christians. Jesus' suffering, I realized after a little while longer, was nothing compared to what these poor souls went through in his name every single day. I swear, after twenty minutes of this self-pitying crap, I wanted to go buy another Sausage McMuffin - or maybe a hash brown; whatever; something fatty. I wanted to squeeze something for no other purpose but to drip grease over each and every one of their randomly opened showpiece Bibles. But? That would be wrong. -And besides... Daylight had arrived. Be good to everyone. |
posted by: OldSchool (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (3:34 pm)
Good to have you back, my friend!
posted by: Ladyg (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (4:00 pm)
So glad to have you back, glad you was able to control yourself and not drip grease on their bibles.
posted by: barnabus1 (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (6:46 pm)
So you had a little "Christian" fellowship hehe...You gotta be dern careful when your that tired though...would have been super easy to doze off when driving!!!
posted by: auntconi (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (8:49 pm)
Glad to know you had a safe trip again ~ you have much to be thankful for ~ and I do believe you are aware of that.
Good to see you here again ~ we missed you!
posted by: babe4jesus55 (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (10:58 pm)
Guess I wasn't the only of blog vacation. Good to "hear" from you again!
posted by: babe4jesus55 (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (10:59 pm)
Geez, that made no sense. I meant to say "only one on blog vacation". I believe it is time for bed.
posted by: Kram1000 (reply)
post date: 02.23.09 (11:13 pm)
Your back! with with just a touch of wry sourness of course.
American style religion is fascinating to hear about and see on TV.
We have all the different versions out here as well. Christians, (all flavours and varieties) Hari Krishnas, Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, Born agains and Hillsongs come easily to mind, but everyone seems to keep it under their hat more.
Like there are at least 2,3 or 4 churches in every suburb. But they don't ram it in your face. Its all quite civilised if you want to go to church, you go if you don't want to you don't. You don't have to hang it there out or give praises to the lord in front of everyone. You just do your thing in private.
In the local area we have a large Greek orthodox monastery and a Buddhist teaching temple down the road with its big domes on top. Plus a few other little parish style churches. What I call traditional ones with steeple roofs, like I went to Sunday school at as a kid.
I have heard of people being door knocked by the men in suits but it seems pretty rare.
Sorry to ramble of topic
Hope the snow lets up
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (5:44 am)
Reply to: OldSchool
Thanks O.S. -Hey. I'm still waiting for some literary criticism from you.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (5:46 am)
Reply to: Ladyg
Thanks Lady. -And I know. But it was very tempting.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (5:48 am)
Reply to: barnabus1
It was fellowship of a sort, and maybe it was even Christian. -But it certainly didn't have anything to do with what Jesus taught.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (5:49 am)
Reply to: auntconi
Thanks A.C. And? No baby yet? Goodness gracious.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (6:11 am)
Reply to: babe4jesus55
Hey, I understand typos. In fact, I'm an expert at leaving out words, or using the wrong article and not noticing it 'til it's too late. I don't even see the mistakes when I proof-read cuz, hey, I KNOW what it's supposed to say. I once gave my wife a Valentines card in which I wrote a message. I'd already written "I love you," and was debating between "You mean more to me than you know," and "My life would be far less meaningful without you," -or something to that effect, for the second line. I got a call just then from HER mother, who never liked me anyway, and who intimidated me like crazy, AND who I could never get OFF the phone when she called. I ended upwriting the message as I spoke on the phone, thinking I was on cruise control. I ended up with, "You mean less to me than you know."
-Thankfully, she forgave me after I explained, but holy moly, I felt stupid.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (6:25 am)
Reply to: Kram1000
It's far too wacky far too often. I am sooooo sick of show-boaters, I want to pull out their hairs one by one - maybe just so they'll look more like me!
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (6:35 am)
Yesterday morning, bright and early, I was privileged to eavesdrop on a bit of Christian fellowship at IHOP. You've inspired me to write about it when I get the chance.
It seems o.k. for a group of people, of common belief who enjoy getting together, to meet at McDonalds for breakfast and chit-chat. All kids of people of all kinds of persuasion do that, so why not also Christians? And I guess you respect such, which is why you did not rudely interrupt their fellowship. Bodyguard for the preacher? It sounds like that was some kind of status symbol for the church folk. And, withdrawing your kids from the public school and home-schooling is a viable option for those who disagree with the process and philosophy of the public schools.
I think I would like to drive up and fellowship with these good brethren, over a McMuffin and a Diet Coke. Let's you and I go?
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (6:41 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
Hmm. How is it we should pray? Seems to me Jesus had some thoughts on this.
I think people should be allowed to home school their children - as long as they have teaching degrees for primary and secondary education in their own states along with the appropriate specialties.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (7:16 am)
Reply to: surrogate
I was thinking the reason for the consideration of Home Schooling was disagreement with the teaching of evolution? I think the argument, by so many, that they do not want their kids in public school because they are exposed to beliefs that the parents disagree with- is far too close minded for me. Instead of shielding our children from things we do not believe, we should equip them with better alternatives. I'm not afraid of evolution, and these parents should not be, either. As far as praying in school- I don't want a teacher leading my kids in prayer. My kids can pray just fine, on their own. But- I think a parent can do a good job of guiding a child's education, without a degree and without state certification. I come across far too many school teachers who either cannot or will not use proper grammar, and who cannot spell, and wear Obama buttons on their lapels, etc. The bottom line should be education- not indoctrination. Unfortunately, our school systems are not doing a good job. Of course, neither are our parents, or our churches.
posted by: babe4jesus55 (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (8:03 am)
Reply to: surrogate
Great story! My brain has been on hyperspeed for so long now that it runs at that constantly now so that I type and say things that don't really make sense quite often. *sigh* Maybe one day my brain will chill out because I really don't want my fingers nor my mouth to catch up with my brain.
posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (5:00 pm)
wb.
posted by: fractalmom (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (5:01 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
Amen to all that you said there. It was a mouthful, and true.
posted by: surrogate (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (6:40 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
I'm glad you're not afraid of evolution. I'm trying to make sense of that particular statement, but I'm glad of it nonetheless. As for your denigration of teachers in general, I assure you that MOST of the couples I know who have chosen to home school their kids - and usually for the sorts of reasons you specified - (and I know a half-dozen or more) none of them are qualified in the least, and I mean not ONE, unless good intentions are good enough for you. Not ONE of them, in fact, and there are seven couples that come to mind specifically, even have a college degree and at least three of the individual parents never graduated from high school themselves. The problem is, to me, that the very sorts of people who think they know enough - or at least can do a better job than people specifically educated for the job - are usually not enlightened enough to see their own limitations and have convinced themselves that, because they have faith, everything will be just hunky-dory in the end. Further, in a couple of cases,I've seen the sorts of kids these people have produced. They're socially underdeveloped, technologically inept and, at least for the five kids I'm thinking of right now, they have virtually no chance to do well in college, or in the work force. Hell, not one of them believes advanced science to be anything more than a fantasy. But, they all have faith, so I guess that's okay. At least their parents didn't wear Obama buttons, right?
If you think public education indoctrinates kids, trust me, the sort of indoctrination these unfortunate kids have received, is FAR more insidious.
posted by: PastorDave (reply)
post date: 02.24.09 (6:58 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
I'll explain. For most people, and not just fundamentalist Christians, we fear most what we understand the least. Blacks? Gays? Muslims? I believe as we get to know people, we realize they aren't so bad after all. We might even like them. In at least a little bit of the same way, lots of Home Schooling parents fear the concept of evolution. Likely it has a lot to do with their church, and preacher, and rigid faith which allows little room for gray areas. Much of this fear is based upon ignorance. I'm not a scholar and not a scientist. But I'm pretty sure that belief in evolution does not necessitate the adoption of atheism. And I'm also convinced that evolution is but a theory, requiring a good bit of faith, which makes it at least a bit akin to religion. So why be afraid of it? To me, all these folk who flock to alternative schooling because of a fear of the teaching of evolution, really do not have much confidence in their faith or their God.
My nephew and nieces were home schooled. They now attend public College and excel in their studies. I think statistics support that home-schooled children generally have a better grasp of the fundamentals- the 3 r's- than those from public schools. As far as the qualification of the parents, one does not have to be a genius nor an expert to point someone to sufficient resources.
posted by: bawdy (reply)
post date: 02.25.09 (12:54 pm)
drama queen! heh
posted by: alaskawildflowers (reply)
post date: 02.25.09 (6:45 pm)
welcome back, my friend. Missed ya!
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