Action 18: Keep up the Dialogue

So glad you are here.

Several months ago, while walking my dog, a page from our town newspaper
flew against my leg.

In it I read a ‘Letter to the Editor’ by a woman named Betty.

For months I have been playing with the idea of how I would like to respond to Betty.

Last weeks volatile topic on abortion has helped clarify my thoughts.

Here they are.

But first, ….

LISTEN UP!

Betty has something to say.

Christians Fighting Back with Prayer

Christians are under attack in this country… Because we stand behind our religious beliefs (which are good and decent)… We are standing up for our religious beliefs and rights guaranteed us under the U.S. Constitution, and we are attacked for this.  The people in our parish, and others, are fighting with prayer – pretty powerful stuff….

That’s it.

As you can see, pretty powerful stuff!

So, here I go ….

Dear Betty,

I thank you for your heart-felt appeal.  In response I would like to say the following:

First, keep up the prayer.  (In fact, include me, if you’d like.)

Second, stand behind your religious beliefs (which, as you say, are ‘good and decent’).

Third, have church picnics in public parks and sing passionate hallelujahs.  Build new churches and recruit new believers.  Teach your children about God and Jesus and all that other good stuff.

Fourth, if you don’t believe in birth control, DON’T use it. 

Fifth, if you don’t believe in terminating your pregnancies, DON’T have an abortion.

Sixth, if you want to marry a man, rather than a woman, by all means, PLEASE do so!

Finally, please know, Christians are generally NOT under attack FOR their FAITH. 

Instead, Christians are often under attack for their LACK of FAITH. 

• Your lack of faith in your God, who created diversity for a reason.
• Your lack of faith in your God, who created choice for a reason.
• And lack of faith that prompts you to force everyone else to be just like you.

So, Betty, please have faith.  Have faith that your loving, almighty God knew exactly what He was doing when He created diversity, differences and choice. 

And then, live YOUR life as you see fit, and allow others to do the same.

Oh, by the way, next time you have one of those church picnics in a public park,

look for a stranger singing along.

It may be me.

Yours truly, Bena

Peep and the Parade by Bena

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Keep up the dialogue   …..   it’s good for us!

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