Last night I went to Border's to study math. I sat at one of the tables by the coffee shop and sipped on a very delicious White Chocolate mocha. I couldn't get online (only T-Mobile) so I have no Internet distractions. Just me, my math assignment (interest rates and loans!) and my coffee.
Well, that's not totally true. I liked to study in public places because I like to feel like I am a part of "life." After I ordered my coffee, I checked out a display of tea or something, but as I did that I overheard a group of either high school or young college kids working on a group project or having a meeting. They were discussing the perception and attitudes against/for gays and lesbians in society. One of the kids, was definitely the leader. He had a strong voice that carried well, and I heard him say, "the largest discrimination against gays and lesbians is those with religious beliefs." They continued to talk, but this statement was what stuck in my mind.
I got my drink, and situated myself in the cafe area to do my math. Across the cafe, there were two girls (the cafe was actually fairly crowded) and they both spoke very loud and I could hear them clearly. They were doing a bible study, studying a passage about King Silas and David. They read, discussed, and questioned each other. It sounded like one of the girls may have had a Jewish background from some of her responses about Jesus, but I couldn't be sure. They were studying God's Word and sharing with one another their experiences with God, Jesus, love and grace.
I sat there, and pondered the irony. As one group discussed the discrimination they felt from "religious people," two "religious" people sat and talked about how to show God's love to all (which is not bad at all, quite cool actually.)
I wanted to stand up, and tell the girls to stop reading and to go over to the other group who felt like religious people were their biggest enemies (and honestly, aren't we the biggest opposers?) and tell them God loves them, even when His people forget that God's love is for all people. I wanted to challenge the girls to be something different to the other group who pigeon-holed all religious people in a box. Not to preach to them, not to scold or judge. But to openly dialogue and show, not just talk about, God's grace.
But I didn't stand up. I sat there, and continued to work on my math homework.
Comments