Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts
By Alyce Wilson
I had gone back to sleep after getting up early to do some work. I awoke to Una barking the excited way she only does when there's someone at the door. Still in a daze, I exchanged my nightgown for exercise pants and a shirt and flew to the door.
When I flung it open, I recognized immediately the smiling, earnest-looking man on the porch. His name was Emmanuel, he said, and he consulted his datebook before saying, "Hi, Alex."
"Alyce," I corrected him.
I remembered, too, that last time I'd remarked that his name meant "God is among us." I didn't ask him, but I wondered if he'd changed it when he got serious about his religion.
What religion, you might ask? Jehovah's Witnesses. Emmanuel was back for his follow-up call. I guess the last time I spoke to him I had nodded my head when he asked me to read the Watchtower, the publication they hand out, and give it some thought.
This time Emmanuel was with a woman of toffee complexion, her thick hair braided and pulled back neatly. She wore festive red lipstick. They both smiled broadly as Emmanuel spoke. She didn't introduce herself.
Emmanuel told me that he thought it was important that we all give some thought to what's been going wrong in our country, that our government hasn't come up with the solutions and perhaps there's a reason for that. God is the answer, he said. His speech was filled with promises of security and safety in the arms of Jehovah.
But the woman broke in. She said that Jehovah had worse things in store than what had been happening in our country in recent years. She said this with a smile on her face.
Emmanuel stepped in and assured me that all Jehovah wanted was that we get to know him and that all would be well and we would be protected. They were playing "good cop, bad cop."
I mentally made a note to tell Una that next time she should let me sleep. In the meantime, I was on the porch with two smiling, extremely sincere, friendly people who would not let me get a word in edgewise.
Finally, I said, "I don't want to waste your time, but I'm happy with my spirituality."
"Oh, we're not trying to change your religion," the woman said. "You can read this along with your Bible. We are offering a free Bible study to talk about some of these concerns."
I didn't think it would help to tell them that my spirituality is more pantheistic, more akin to Zen Buddhism than to Christianity. I changed tactics. I just kept smiling and said, "I hope you have a nice day. Thank you."
Finally, Emmanuel handed me another Watchtower and told me that they only wanted me to read through it and consider what I found inside. I told them again to have a nice day, stepped inside the door and closed it.
A casual perusal of the Watchtower reveals articles with such titles as "What Would You Like to Ask God?" and "Where Can True Comfort Be Found?" This paragraph is included in the article titled "Give Comfort to Those Who Grieve:"
The lives of countless millions have been marred by violence — criminal violence in a community or the violence of war. How can we comfort them? True Christians take care that in neither word nor deed do they take sides with one faction or the other in the world's conflicts. (John 17:16) But they appropriately use the Bible to show that present harsh conditions will not go on forever.
It seems Emmanuel and I may have more in common than he currently believes. But while I respect the courage and dedication it take a stand on deeply held beliefs, I'm not about to start attending any Jehovah's Witnesses worship services.
Next time maybe I'll put Una on "snooze."
Moral:
To a dog, it's always urgent when someone is at the door.
Copyright
2003 by Alyce Wilson
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