Witnessing a Witness Witness
Have you ever been "witnessed" to? I'm not exactly sure if that is the right verb-age, but it's what makes sense in my brain, so bear with me....Witnessed to...It has been a good, long, solid DECADE since I've discussed religion with someone. Like, have someone actually take the time to sit and listen, and be concerned about how I view God and faith (or my lack thereof) and wonder about my soul's...well being.
It was surreal.
My long story short: I went to church from 3rd-12th grade, "lost my faith", now I'm very much a Believe what you want to Believe sort of person. Were the 'Coexist' bumper sticker less tacky, it would be on my car.
So the Witnessing came from a co-worker. We were driving back from an all day seminar that had kind of sucked out our brains. I put on some music that I thought he might like (The Black Keys!! Because they're just awesome!) but before we could even finish a song, he asked in the timid can-I-ask-you-a-personal-question kind of way what my religious views were and so started the longest conversation about religion that I had had since...ever. I was quick to say that I was completely comfortable talking about such things, so long as it is simply a discussion and not a This-Will-Not-End-Until-We-Agree type of talk. He agreed.
Then I got to hear about why he lived in Italy for two years - he was a legit Missionary! I had one of those brief naive They-Still-Do-That!? moments....But anyway, he told me how it gave his life a purpose, and how important his faith was to him. How he believes that things happen for a reason. We discussed lots of topics - creation, the bible, homosexuality, abortion, beliefs of different churches, family, science, sharing God with others, and the way things happen in life.
I could go into great detail about our differences on each topic, but you get the gist: Mind already zapped, now being emotionally drained and expected to articulate why I believe what I believe.
So anyway. We Agreed to Disagree in the end, or at least consider what the other had to say. And while I drove away after sitting in a parking lot where we had met that morning for over an hour talking with him, my mind was whirling with questions and thoughts I hadn't bothered with in a long time.
And then I started the Black Keys album over since we had talked through it, and came to a ridiculous and most amusing conclusion. I hadn't even begun to wonder where that conversation had come from yet, but here's what song was playing when he first asked me about my religious views:
Lyrics to "Everlasting Light"
Let me be your everlasting light
The sun when there is none
I'm a shepherd for you
And I'll guide you through
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
I'll hold and never scold
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
In me you can confide
When no one's by your side
Let me be your everlasting light
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
Oh baby, can't you see
It's shinin' just for you
Loneliness is over
Dark days are through
They're through
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
Let me be your everlasting light
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
A train goin' 'way from pain
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
Love is the coal
That makes this train roll
Let me be your everlasting light
Yeah
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
Ohh...
First of all - if you haven't heard it...GO LISTEN TO IT! Second, my romantic/fanfic writing mind has never EVER even let me consider this song being religious for whatever reason. AND TELL ME YOU CAN'T PICTURE ZOOEY DESCHANEL SINGING IT! Oh, and DIBS on the DG/Cain fanfic that has been rolling around in my head every time I hear this BY THE WAY. But in light of the conversation I just had, I just sort of stared confounded at the song title on the radio display for a second.
Then, laughing, I nearly swerved off the road. Everything for reason, indeed.
I couldn't help but think: Poor guy - I had nearly put it on a playlist of hardcore rock and roll, and then where would we be?
It was surreal.
My long story short: I went to church from 3rd-12th grade, "lost my faith", now I'm very much a Believe what you want to Believe sort of person. Were the 'Coexist' bumper sticker less tacky, it would be on my car.
So the Witnessing came from a co-worker. We were driving back from an all day seminar that had kind of sucked out our brains. I put on some music that I thought he might like (The Black Keys!! Because they're just awesome!) but before we could even finish a song, he asked in the timid can-I-ask-you-a-personal-question kind of way what my religious views were and so started the longest conversation about religion that I had had since...ever. I was quick to say that I was completely comfortable talking about such things, so long as it is simply a discussion and not a This-Will-Not-End-Until-We-Agree type of talk. He agreed.
Then I got to hear about why he lived in Italy for two years - he was a legit Missionary! I had one of those brief naive They-Still-Do-That!? moments....But anyway, he told me how it gave his life a purpose, and how important his faith was to him. How he believes that things happen for a reason. We discussed lots of topics - creation, the bible, homosexuality, abortion, beliefs of different churches, family, science, sharing God with others, and the way things happen in life.
I could go into great detail about our differences on each topic, but you get the gist: Mind already zapped, now being emotionally drained and expected to articulate why I believe what I believe.
So anyway. We Agreed to Disagree in the end, or at least consider what the other had to say. And while I drove away after sitting in a parking lot where we had met that morning for over an hour talking with him, my mind was whirling with questions and thoughts I hadn't bothered with in a long time.
And then I started the Black Keys album over since we had talked through it, and came to a ridiculous and most amusing conclusion. I hadn't even begun to wonder where that conversation had come from yet, but here's what song was playing when he first asked me about my religious views:
Lyrics to "Everlasting Light"
Let me be your everlasting light
The sun when there is none
I'm a shepherd for you
And I'll guide you through
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
I'll hold and never scold
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
In me you can confide
When no one's by your side
Let me be your everlasting light
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
Oh baby, can't you see
It's shinin' just for you
Loneliness is over
Dark days are through
They're through
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
Let me be your everlasting light
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
A train goin' 'way from pain
(Shoo-shoo-shoo-wa)
Love is the coal
That makes this train roll
Let me be your everlasting light
Yeah
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
Ohh...
First of all - if you haven't heard it...GO LISTEN TO IT! Second, my romantic/fanfic writing mind has never EVER even let me consider this song being religious for whatever reason. AND TELL ME YOU CAN'T PICTURE ZOOEY DESCHANEL SINGING IT! Oh, and DIBS on the DG/Cain fanfic that has been rolling around in my head every time I hear this BY THE WAY. But in light of the conversation I just had, I just sort of stared confounded at the song title on the radio display for a second.
Then, laughing, I nearly swerved off the road. Everything for reason, indeed.
I couldn't help but think: Poor guy - I had nearly put it on a playlist of hardcore rock and roll, and then where would we be?