In the year 2000, I had minor surgery that turned into a colostomy bag and then I was rushed back for more surgery to save my life. I was in a cubicle on the bed, behind a curtain in the emergency room. I was in severe pain, waiting for the doctor, having already requested the assistance of a hospital social worker.
A woman entered, without introduction. I thought she was the hospital social worker. She started telling me to accept Jesus in my heart and all would be well. Her uninvited appearance in my private cubicle appalled me. First, I was in such pain and panic that I had no desire to enter into a conversation with anyone but the doctor. Second, what made this woman believe that she was entitled to talk to me about Jesus? Third, she was not affiliated with the hospital and as a hospital chaplain, I know that chaplains are called by the patient or introduce themselves to a patient before speaking.
I was a captive in my own cubicle, so very weak and used every ounce of my strength to tell her to remove herself.
The New Testament speaks of spreading the Good Word. When Jesus and Paul spoke to their apostles they were trying to develop a new religious system. Strength in numbers. But the numbers have risen enough that speaking to me, a Jewish woman, was out of line. This woman probably had no idea of my religious background. It seems that she did not care. Her concern was her need and sense of entitlement to “save me.” Where was her sense of compassion? Her loving-kindness? Would she have appreciated having a stranger enter her emergency room cubicle and preach to her about Confucius or Buddha or convince her that becoming a Mormon would be in her best interest in order to recover? Did Jesus not preach “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”?
I have had lovely women come and knock on my door and talk to me about the Good Word as espoused by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I always invite them into my home to talk. I bring out my Bibles-yes plural-and we compare the prose. These lovely women only know one interpretation of the Word and when I ask them questions that do not fit their narrative, they are lost. One of their concerns was being sure that I knew God’s name-Yahweh. I tried to explain that there are around 91 names for God in the Hebrew Bible. And Yahweh is the English translation of the unspoken, untranslatable four letter name for God.
I have been visited by young Mormon men, youths, who want me to see that their way is the way to God. They even sent me letters from Jewish people who had converted. These young men have a mantra that they deliver. When I ask questions, they have no answers. Mormons, in order to increase their numbers, baptize the dead, including the Jews.
I invite others into my home because of my love of religion. I hope when they leave they will have greater appreciation for my connection to God. I tend to respect the beliefs of others. There are some beliefs that are beyond the pale for me. I would like everyone else to respect me. Please, stop proselytizing. There are many ways to God. Yours is not the only one. Do not impose your views on me or anyone else; especially the dead. At least let the dead rest in peace. Let us live in peace, together, respecting one another. Please do not lecture to me and tell me that I will go to Hell if I don’t accept Jesus in my heart. Jesus would weep at this. He who said, do not change a jot or tittle of the law. He who spoke of compassion for others, outside the group. He who said to circumcise your heart with the Laws of Moses.
In the spirit of “living together,” perhaps we need to talk about what holds us together.
AWARENESS OF GOD- A FLAME BLAZING FROM THE MIDDLE OF A BUSH
Moses was a shepherd in Midian. He was a quiet man, who walked the land caring for his flock. Who knows how many times he walked the same paths, across the same streams? Who knows how many times he walked past that small, rather innocuous bush at the edge of the path? It was a burning bush. Rather hard to miss. Then one day he saw. And he knew. On that day, he was ready to be aware.
God is always waiting at the edges, patiently waiting for us to be aware, to look, to see, to know. God is infinite in His patience and His trust in us to listen, to learn, to grow more conscious of our responsibilities to care and show compassion for others. As time has passed from the moment of creation, His Word has spread, broader and wider, filled with greater levels of meaning, waiting for us to see and know that all of us who follow His teachings are of the same family. And like members of any family, some of us travel different paths to arrive at the same location. God is waiting there, patiently, at the edges for us to become aware of His desire for us to hold each other up, not tear each other down or demean or diminish the paths taken by the members of His family. He is waiting, in the fire, in the burning bush that is never consumed, waiting for us to be aware of the need to love and respect others.
Canada is a country of many ethnic groups, many different religions. This is the 21st century. If you believe that you know the way to God, if you fear that I may not make it to heaven if I don’t accept your interpretation of the Bible, please let me assure you, if I get lost along the way, I will find you on the internet.
