I have been saved....(be warned....long post. But I think worth it!)
Okay, so a brief backstory before I dive into my night of fright. For one of my classes, I have to go and have 3 multicultural experiences. Which, is easier said than done. See, most of the people in my class said that they'd never seen a person of color before they went to undergrad. I was frightened and shocked, as I'm sure most of you are right now. So, finding cultural things for them that they've never seen/experienced? EASY!!!! It is much harder for me.
So, tonight I decided to go and be multicultural! Jon (my RD friend) and I heard about a spirit healer in a near-by town. We rounded up a few more friends and went to experience it. Now, when I heard spirit healer, I thought of someone cleaning my aura. I went old world with it. I was very wrong. We pulled up in front of a large, really beautiful building, with a cross on top. My heart sank right then and there. But I was still excited.
We entered, trying to look casual, and this boy approached us. His name was Jon too!!! Easy to remember, sure, but he freaked us out! At first, he was really nice and answered all of my stupid questions. But then, when I asked him what to expect tonight? Oh god......."Last night.....a man came in, and after God's hand touched him, he was able to see! He had been completely blind for 50 years!!!! Can't you feel God's hand upon you now?"
I really didn't feel God's hand on me. I was just thankful that I had done laundry that day, as my only clean t-shirts say "Vagina warrior" and "Gay? Fine by me!"
So, we went into the service. It was a lot of singing at first, which was fine. They actually had a really great band. So, Jon and I jammed for a while. And then.....then the preaching started. First, they thanked the new youth (us!) for coming and letting God into our lives. We were singled out a lot during the service.
Then, the spirit healer took the microphone. And he talked. For two hours. We had already been there for about 45 minutes before he started. But, I wouldn't have minded. Except he only made two points during that time. Two. He said them over and over again. At first, I didn't mind him. He actually did a little comedy early on. Then he got serious.
Did you know that God is supernatural? I sure didn't. And I was always told that Jesus was in my heart. Apparently, that is a dirty filthy lie. If I try to confine God to that sort of space...I'm sinning. So, I guess I'll add that onto my list of Ricky Sins.
And then....the healing began. First, he said "I will preform a miracle here today. I know something about these young people." And he swept his arm toward us. I think we all collectively avoided his eyes. He moved closer to us, taking his microphone with him. Jon visiably flinched away. "I know something in particular about one of these people."
He walked closer, getting into our personal bubbles (SUPERSHAFFE!), and then stopped. I looked at his shoes, and then I made the mistake of looking up. He was pointing at me. I had answered the pastor's question earlier about where we were from. Everyone else had been silent, and I didn't want him to think that we had no idea where we had just driven from. It's like speaking up at a wench auction....always a mistake. You're tagged for the rest of the day.
So, he pointed at me. "Stand up, child." I stood. Jon snickered, and I kicked him. "I know all about you." *CREEPY!*
Then he says, "You have a history of cancer in your family." Now....who in America doesn't have some cancer in their family? Honestly?!? I nodded yes, and he PUT HIS HAND ON MY FOREHEAD!!!!! A man moved behind me, arms outstreched. As if to catch me WHEN I fall. Not if....but when. The spirit healer asked me my name, and I gave it. He paused, cocked his head, and said "My...that's different." He then prayed on me, to protect me from this illness, because it would strike me later on in life. Then he gently pushed on my forehead. I rocked slightly, but remained standing.
He then asked if I was a Christian. I said no. Jon acted like he didn't know me at all. ;-P Then he asked about my history, and I said that I had been raised Lutheran. He then looked around, laughing. "That's a Christian, child!" I used the past tense......asshole..... He then said "I know so much more about you, but I won't say it now."
Jon says that he probably thought I was a heathen that wanted to be a boy due to my name. And that I was crazy to say that I wasn't a Christian. I agree now. So many hugs as we left that church. And God-Jon asking if I believed now. And if I felt anything when the man touched me. I said that his hands were sweaty from holding the microphone.
That..........is my multicultural experience. It was.....worth having......but never want to do it again... :)
So, tonight I decided to go and be multicultural! Jon (my RD friend) and I heard about a spirit healer in a near-by town. We rounded up a few more friends and went to experience it. Now, when I heard spirit healer, I thought of someone cleaning my aura. I went old world with it. I was very wrong. We pulled up in front of a large, really beautiful building, with a cross on top. My heart sank right then and there. But I was still excited.
We entered, trying to look casual, and this boy approached us. His name was Jon too!!! Easy to remember, sure, but he freaked us out! At first, he was really nice and answered all of my stupid questions. But then, when I asked him what to expect tonight? Oh god......."Last night.....a man came in, and after God's hand touched him, he was able to see! He had been completely blind for 50 years!!!! Can't you feel God's hand upon you now?"
I really didn't feel God's hand on me. I was just thankful that I had done laundry that day, as my only clean t-shirts say "Vagina warrior" and "Gay? Fine by me!"
So, we went into the service. It was a lot of singing at first, which was fine. They actually had a really great band. So, Jon and I jammed for a while. And then.....then the preaching started. First, they thanked the new youth (us!) for coming and letting God into our lives. We were singled out a lot during the service.
Then, the spirit healer took the microphone. And he talked. For two hours. We had already been there for about 45 minutes before he started. But, I wouldn't have minded. Except he only made two points during that time. Two. He said them over and over again. At first, I didn't mind him. He actually did a little comedy early on. Then he got serious.
Did you know that God is supernatural? I sure didn't. And I was always told that Jesus was in my heart. Apparently, that is a dirty filthy lie. If I try to confine God to that sort of space...I'm sinning. So, I guess I'll add that onto my list of Ricky Sins.
And then....the healing began. First, he said "I will preform a miracle here today. I know something about these young people." And he swept his arm toward us. I think we all collectively avoided his eyes. He moved closer to us, taking his microphone with him. Jon visiably flinched away. "I know something in particular about one of these people."
He walked closer, getting into our personal bubbles (SUPERSHAFFE!), and then stopped. I looked at his shoes, and then I made the mistake of looking up. He was pointing at me. I had answered the pastor's question earlier about where we were from. Everyone else had been silent, and I didn't want him to think that we had no idea where we had just driven from. It's like speaking up at a wench auction....always a mistake. You're tagged for the rest of the day.
So, he pointed at me. "Stand up, child." I stood. Jon snickered, and I kicked him. "I know all about you." *CREEPY!*
Then he says, "You have a history of cancer in your family." Now....who in America doesn't have some cancer in their family? Honestly?!? I nodded yes, and he PUT HIS HAND ON MY FOREHEAD!!!!! A man moved behind me, arms outstreched. As if to catch me WHEN I fall. Not if....but when. The spirit healer asked me my name, and I gave it. He paused, cocked his head, and said "My...that's different." He then prayed on me, to protect me from this illness, because it would strike me later on in life. Then he gently pushed on my forehead. I rocked slightly, but remained standing.
He then asked if I was a Christian. I said no. Jon acted like he didn't know me at all. ;-P Then he asked about my history, and I said that I had been raised Lutheran. He then looked around, laughing. "That's a Christian, child!" I used the past tense......asshole..... He then said "I know so much more about you, but I won't say it now."
Jon says that he probably thought I was a heathen that wanted to be a boy due to my name. And that I was crazy to say that I wasn't a Christian. I agree now. So many hugs as we left that church. And God-Jon asking if I believed now. And if I felt anything when the man touched me. I said that his hands were sweaty from holding the microphone.
That..........is my multicultural experience. It was.....worth having......but never want to do it again... :)