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awana
May 2009 
The Missionaries came to the door
Posted on Sep 12th, 2007
by 
ruth
ruth
The Missionaries came to the door last week.
And just earlier that same afternoon a friend of mine had told me he had taken his little daughter to AWANA. I had to google that: The acrostic "AWANA" comes from the Bible verse: "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15).
I am sure there is much good in it. Hmmm...
But here's me always giving my kids a lecture before sending them off to Christian indoctrination camps and such: "Remember to beware the AntiIntelligence Police. If you feel like engaging rhetoric, feel free. But it is always ok to nod stupidly like one of those little doggies on the dashboard of cars and just say silent prayers that your interogator/manipulator be delivered from themselves before they die. And ask God to speak to you in a voice you can understand. Submit to God, never to ranters."
So last evening the Missionaries came in. From a midwest US state.
Are they 18?
They seem younger. Purer.
They said my son Nicolas was in a towel yesterday and told them they would be welcome back later.
I said "Of course! It must be a long day? Do you miss your family? Can I get you lemonade?"
And they asked if I wanted to know what their Book could contribute to my life.
And I said I had read it and enjoyed it and thought that, just like the Koran, if it contributed to compassion and community, I was a fan.
And there were a bunch of other questions meant to convict me of my need to be indoctrinated... to which I just said I would just as soon not know until I was dead because as far as I know most spiritual traditions are into mystery and forgiveness as long as one keeps a pure heart of charity, and since I am not big enough or smart enough to know apart from that, I would just be happy to give them dinner as well as lemonade.
But they toddled off with their lemonade, saying that I was the nicest person they had met all day. If that is true, it is a grave disappointment and a sad comment on my neighbourhood.
I was only slightly grateful that I was spared a rote Religious rant, and just simply got to mother. They seemed reasonably intelligent for fundamentalists (haha - oops, sorry)
And just earlier that same afternoon a friend of mine had told me he had taken his little daughter to AWANA. I had to google that: The acrostic "AWANA" comes from the Bible verse: "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15).
I am sure there is much good in it. Hmmm...
But here's me always giving my kids a lecture before sending them off to Christian indoctrination camps and such: "Remember to beware the AntiIntelligence Police. If you feel like engaging rhetoric, feel free. But it is always ok to nod stupidly like one of those little doggies on the dashboard of cars and just say silent prayers that your interogator/manipulator be delivered from themselves before they die. And ask God to speak to you in a voice you can understand. Submit to God, never to ranters."
So last evening the Missionaries came in. From a midwest US state.
Are they 18?
They seem younger. Purer.
They said my son Nicolas was in a towel yesterday and told them they would be welcome back later.
I said "Of course! It must be a long day? Do you miss your family? Can I get you lemonade?"
And they asked if I wanted to know what their Book could contribute to my life.
And I said I had read it and enjoyed it and thought that, just like the Koran, if it contributed to compassion and community, I was a fan.
And there were a bunch of other questions meant to convict me of my need to be indoctrinated... to which I just said I would just as soon not know until I was dead because as far as I know most spiritual traditions are into mystery and forgiveness as long as one keeps a pure heart of charity, and since I am not big enough or smart enough to know apart from that, I would just be happy to give them dinner as well as lemonade.
But they toddled off with their lemonade, saying that I was the nicest person they had met all day. If that is true, it is a grave disappointment and a sad comment on my neighbourhood.
I was only slightly grateful that I was spared a rote Religious rant, and just simply got to mother. They seemed reasonably intelligent for fundamentalists (haha - oops, sorry)
Access: PublicTagged with: missionary, AWANA
First of all, that is a lovely photo. It conveys peace and introspection to me. When I first saw it, I though, “Walking on the water.” Ultimately, that could be the theme of your post. Jesus knew He could walk on the water. He just knew. Miracles aren't miraculous when everything is possible.
Fundamentalists just know what they are preaching is true. It's interesting how on either side of the imaginary “spiritual spectrum” (one side being dogmatic thinking and the other being Oneness) there exisits simplicity. Fundamentalists believe if everyone would simply believe the truth as their religion sees it, everything would be harmonious. Saints simply operate from the level of Peace and Harmony.
I have my own missionary story. There is a lovely and polite Jehovah's Witness lady who visits me every month or so. She has an engaging Dutch accent and is always impecably dressed. My dog, used to her visits, barks enthusiastically when she appears at my door with her Watchtower magazines. The conversation usually lasts about 5 mintues. I do that “dog on the dash-board” routine, and send her off happy. Even though I will never convert to her way of thinking, I admire her dedication.
Kind of you to make that comment about the photo.
But what I was actually thinking was: I hope my crazy brothers do not kill my sons and nephews out in those sailboats.
When I was a child, I came close to death far too often on Lake Superior, as crew for my father and brothers. :)
And, interspersed with motherly shepherding thoughts I was holding an adult I love dearly, close in my heart.
Mothering and holding others precious might be its own kind of 'peace'.