Thanks, kid. You’ve motivated me to work on my flip-turn.
I’m really not trying to take over Agnostic Mom’s niche, but around here it’s just been same shit, different day.
Friday’s weather was beautiful, so I jogged to our neighborhood outdoor pool to swim laps. A mother and her two young daughters joined me in the adjacent lane.
The three of them swam laps next to me for a while, until one of the girls got tired and began bobbing around at the end of their lane. When I reached the end of my lane, I smiled at her.
After my next lap, she spoke: “I like your suit.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
“Where’d you get it?”
“Um. Sports Authority, I think. It’s been a while.” I pushed off for another lap.
When I returned, she spoke again: “Where are you going for lunch today?”
“I’ll probably just eat at home. Are you going someplace special?”
“Yes. We’re going to Chik-Fil-A.”
“Mmm…I love Chik-Fil-A. Have fun!” I pushed off again.
Once more, when I surfaced next to her, she spoke: “Do you know the Bible?”
“A little bit,” I replied, and ducked back underwater. As far as I was concerned, this conversation had taken a downturn.
But it was what she said after my next round-trip that really confounded me: “Did you know that Jesus died on the cross for your sins?”
I couldn’t help chuckling a bit as I answered, “Yes, I’ve been told that.”
She heard the laughter in my voice and was not amused. “It’s true,” she insisted. “Jesus died on the cross for your sins.”
I nodded and repeated myself in a more serious tone: “You’re right, I’ve been told that.”
By then, her mother had surfaced next to her and overheard her daughter’s words and my reply. She smiled at me, but didn’t speak to either her daughter or me. It was as if she was waiting for us to continue our conversation.
I started swimming again and didn’t stop until they’d left their lane.
Seriously, what the fuck was that about?
I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that from a Jews for Jesus evangelist, pressing a pamphlet into my hand in the catacombs of the Times Square subway station. But from a little kid in a suburban neighborhood swimming pool? No way.
And not a peep out of her mother, either. No “Let the lady swim” or “It’s time to get ready to go to lunch” or even a perfunctory “I’m sorry – she’s a chatty one!” to me. Just an expectant smile, tacitly encouraging her daughter’s questioning of an adult on a topic that isn’t typically broached by polite strangers.
Makes me wish Tacy had been there. She might not have hesitated to answer back: “Oh no, he didn’t!”
August 25th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Well, I can assure you she wasn’t Catholic. They’d be offering you some Irish whiskey and a prayer medallion.
heh.
Motherhood Uncensoreds last blog post..Etiquette, Bitch – The Baby on the Bar
August 25th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Whoa. I love the jump from Chik-Fil-A to crucifixion.
mayberrys last blog post..Slacker mom goes back to school
August 25th, 2008 at 7:45 am
WTH was that about? She went from nice suit to lunch to trying to save you? It’s definitely time for the flip turn.
caramamas last blog post..Question of the Week – Olympic Moment
August 25th, 2008 at 7:45 am
You just never know where you’re gonna find a bible lesson. The pool. Who knew?
Btw – love the new look!
Caras last blog post..A Letter to the Makers of Baby Clothes
August 25th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Wow. I am shocked.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Wow. Is her Sunday School tracking how many souls they can each save? Does she get a free bike if she’s the winner?
The kid must be a blast to be around on the playground at school.
I’m just amazed by how fast she turned the conversation, and that her mom said nothing.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:16 am
You might have asked her
..to specify what sins of yours did he die for since you don’t remember sinning, ever?
..if there were no sinners, did Jesus die in vain?
..why did Jesus decide to die for the sins of others?
..how did she know he died for your sins? who told her that? has this person ever lied? Is lying a sin?
August 25th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Wow, that reminds me of the time I was pumping gas and approached by a JW who said she approached us because we have appear the have family values (which she got from the fact we drove a mini van).
That was a little weird.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Good grief. Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the water…
Assertagirls last blog post..A Little White Dress and a Whole Lotta Leather
August 25th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Proselytizing children skeeve me out big time.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Man, I tell my kids to leave people alone and they just talk about things like the weather.
Heathers last blog post..How Boobs Became Zebras and other classy stuff
August 25th, 2008 at 11:40 am
If they start trying to convert me at the pool, that seals it, never swimming again. (too bad I gave birth to a fish)
I do seriously wonder about who teaches kids that it is OK to talk to strangers if you’re going to try to save them. I mean, at least ask for candy first.
Amelia Sprouts last blog post..No Hugs In Minnesota
August 25th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Dude – and you’re not even in the Midwest. You kind of expect that out here. “Two double cheeseburgers and a chocolate shake. Do you want Jesus with that?”
I always struggle with how to respond in situations like that. The Jehovah’s witnesses are pretty easy, because if you say “No Thank You” they usually just go away – at least the ones from last week did. I like the Mormons. Is it wrong that I invite them in for coffee?
Amys last blog post..VP Picks
August 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
“Did you know JC died for your sins?” Uh, no, I honestly didn’t know. My parents never mentioned JC in our house as they are Jewish. I never know how to react to proselytizing Christians. They seem not to get that I’m not like a low-grade Christian who needs to ramp it up. I’m just not a Christian at all. Move on. Move on to someone who has some deep-seated guilt and might start modifying their behavior as you would will them to.
RookieMom Whitneys last blog post..Liveblogging a vacation
August 25th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’ve got a nervous tummy just thinking about it. Were it my kid, I wouldn’t have been able to get her out of the pool fast enough.
Megans last blog post..You know what they say about payback…
August 25th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
::Crinnnnnge::
feefifotos last blog post..You’ll Be As Famous As Michael Phelps, But Without All The Chlorine
August 25th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Brainwashed much? Yikes!!
August 25th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Poor kid. She has probably been told that if she DOESN’T talk about Jesus, people will burn in hell. Pretty heavy to lay on a little kiddo.
August 25th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I do believe in God and that’s my gig. But I had Jehovah’s Witnesses wake me up over the weekend and two Mormon kids interrupt my dinner yesterday. Seriously? I’m smart. I know where the churches are. I’ve got my own Bible. If I need to get my God on, I know where to find it. Leave me the hell alone!
Anissa@Hope4Peytons last blog post..This Divorce Brought To You By The Nice People At Charmin
August 26th, 2008 at 3:54 am
My grandfather used to invite them into his house and debated with them… for hours. He was the only one I ever knew who would open his door no matter the time of day they knocked. Hopefully he got brownie points.
P.S. Really liking the new blog header. Pretty rawkin’.
veep veeps last blog post..Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere
August 26th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Love the new header. Hate chatty kids in the lap lanes no matter the subject. Kinda surprising Mom didn’t give her a high five from the sounds of it.
Mama Mavens last blog post..I am an Iron Girl
August 26th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
LOVE the new banner and look.
If that had happened to me in the pool I would have freaked. We have a family that comes to our playground and they let their children do that kind of tactic (with their backup) and to make it worse in my eyes, they bring a wagon full of cool toys to attract other kids so they can engage them in their conversion, I mean conversations. I always leave when they show up, they just don’t stop. They have the right to approach in public places but when you ask them to politely lay off and they don’t go away, that’s when I get pissy. BTW – I’m going to steal Tacy’s line.
motherbumpers last blog post..anywhere but here
August 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
ha ha. I can see your face the whole time.
Aimee Greeblemonkeys last blog post..Lost
August 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I always tell the people that come to our door (we’re in a very walkable neighborhood and attract them like a magnet), “I’m not into the ‘God’ stuff. Try our neighbor, they’re Satanists.”
prescotts last blog post..Dinner for One
August 27th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
That’s . . . interesting.
Love the new look!
Kimberlys last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: The popsicle
September 9th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Yes, they are all ages and they are EVERYWHERE in Colorado. Jonah recently told a kid that he didn’t believe in God right now. (A conclusion he came to all on his own.) The kid told him he probably shouldn’t say that out loud, and Jonah said, “If people can talk about God then I can talk about no god. It’s a free country.” I was so proud.
Catherines last blog post..A guest post from my sister Lizzie
April 20th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
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