I have become a target for Jehovah's Witnesses. They're not harassing me, by any means, but they seem to have taken an interest in my soul. [A-hem] Souls.
This all began a few weeks ago, when they knock-knocked on the door, and I, figuring I was going to be greeting people seeking access to the paper, opened it. A lot of people are rude to Jehovah's Witnesses, which I don't understand because it takes guts and faith to go door-knocking and proselytizing the way they do. After I identified myself as Pagan (I didn't want to give anyone a heart attack by using the word "Witch"), I listened politely to what the woman had to say, as the young Witness-in-Training looked on, offering a few of my thoughts as to why people were turning away from Christianity and, toward the end of our conversation, taking the booklet she offered with a sincere promise to read it. She said she'd stop by again to discuss the booklet with me, and I said, "Please do."
Which surprised me as much as it does you.
This morning, I was cleaning up my desk, and I happened upon the booklet again. I thought briefly of throwing it away, but I remembered my promise and tucked it into a drawer instead, renewing my commitment to myself and to her to follow through on my promise. And wouldn't you know, a few hours later....
Knock, knock, knock.
I answered the door, again expecting to see someone with news for me, or at the very least, one of GuitarBoy's young friends wondering if he was home. When I saw who was there, I experienced a certain amount of disdain, both because it was half an hour away from the end of the day and I was trying to finish a project I'd promised to complete by five, and because I had not followed through on my promise to her yet. She was with her husband this time. With a niggling of impatience on my part, I listened as she remembered me by name and opened up to one of the gospels, where she read about the kingdom of heaven. Huh, I thought to myself, the kingdom of heaven could be here on Earth if it weren't for all you religious zealots (which is an untrue generalization, but it was the thought that ran through my head at the time). But she was so earnest when she asked me if I'd thought about the kingdom of heaven, that I respectfully replied, "Sure."
When she asked me what I thought it meant, I just reversed the question: "What do you think it means?" I believe she opened to a verse in Daniel next, and then maybe one of the Timothies, developing her explanation all the while. We went back and forth for awhile, with me questioning her and refusing the role of proselytyzee, until I asked, "Do you believe the kingdom of God is imminent?" Both she and her husband nodded a grave yes.
Now, while all this was going on, I was very aware of my discomfort, but simultaneously fascinated by the dialogue and amazed at the kindness and true belief of these gentle people, who truly believe they are doing the Lord's work by following the Great Commission. I didn't feel judgment coming from them, just faith. As I stood in my center of Will, listening and speaking with them, I also listened for any advice Sacred Dove might have been offering. All I got was a continued sense of curiosity and a desire to continue the dialogue and maybe, just maybe, take her up on her offer to attend church in their hall on Sunday.
Why? Because I am an edgewalker. One of my heroines, M. Macha Nightmare, participates in interfaith dialogues on a regular basis, and I recognize the value of this work. I am not deluding myself that I am going to change any of their minds, and really, I don't want to. But it just so happens that I was raised in the Christian tradition (she even remembered which one), and I am equipped with the experience to walk into that lion's den with one mission: to show them that Witches are not evil and that we respect those of different beliefs and can hold them in our hearts with love, just as their Savior commanded them to do of Gentiles and tax collectors and prostitutes and other people outside their circles of social and moral experience.
So am I going on Sunday? I'm still not sure. But I have a strong sense that if I don't go this Sunday, I will one Sunday down the line. Why?
Because I am edgewalker, and it is in my heart to accept love where it is offered and to offer it in turn.
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