This morning I heard a knock at the door while I was eating yogurt and reading Chapter 4 of Jack Kornfield's A Path with Heart. Self-acceptance is probably the only way to progress spiritually, I had read.

I had not showered, and my newly cut hair was spiky and misshapen. I smoothed my hand over my head and went downstairs thinking that it was probably one of those freaky fundamentalist Christian people from that church in town and I really didn't care too much if I looked like a slob.

I peered out the window and saw two people standing there, a tall dark one and a short white one. I took a deep breath and opened the door with judgement made.

"We are just walking through the neighborhood talking about Faith and sharing a quote from the Bible," the short woman in white said. She appeared to be in her late seventies.

I grimaced, tried to make it into a smile, and kept silent and let the woman in white keep talking. Her voice quavered a bit and her head shook every so often as if she was suffering from Parkinson's disease. "We find people often forget how important faith is. Let me quote from the Bible."

My instinct was the same when charities called me on the phone. I wanted to say, "No." No, I am not interested. Please take me off your list. But what list was I on? I have often thought of putting up a "No solicitation" sign, but that would prevent the neighborhood kids coming by with their girl scout cookies and their peanuts for the football team. I almost never bought anything, but always made a donation if I knew the kid. But I also thought, this woman is just offering to read an excerpt from the bible. What could be simpler or more innocent? Reading aloud from an ancient book. Sharing a story. I had not read the bible in a while.

I allowed her to continue. The tall dark man with his slicked back hair just stood silently with his hands held behind his back.

The passage, from Hebrews, was short. It was not a particularly insightful passage. It did not define faith. It stated that those who reflect on faith pleased God. Yeah. That made sense in the context the woman offered me. But that was all. Oh, well. It was what it was. I smiled and the woman pulled the Watch Tower out of her handbag.

My newly adopted Buddhist temperament frayed. I had read the Watch Tower in the past and was unimpressed. I was ready with a "No, thank you" while she continued.

"We are sharing this magazine with people today. May I leave a copy with you?"

Returning to Buddha I calmly and gently said, "No thank you."

Apparently this was the woman's clue to make an assumption. "Ah, you probably practice another religion." It was one of those statements with a question in it.

All of these emotions rushed at me. I wanted to answer her hidden question. How could she be so narrow to assume that all that there is is religion? Of course I was not religious and I would tell her so right now and see what she thought of that. But I also heard a voice in my head say: It's none of your business lady! How dare you knock on my door and disturb my meditation and ask me personal questions? But then I was assuming I knew what she meant by religion. I had decided who she was and why she was there. I was in good company.

But I also realized she had not actually asked a question. Huh.

I just smiled as I imagined Buddha would and said, "Thank you." They thanked me and retreated.
__________________________
Ellen
Ever learning, Everlasting