When J comes home from work, he grabs a bite to eat and then we head out for a walk with the Muffins. We do a nice 2 1/2 mile route around our neighborhood that makes us feel good and allows the kids a chance to get out and get some fresh air. J and I both look forward to our walk very much.
Tonight, as we were just rounding the first corner of our walk we hear a man yell across the street to us and we stop. Immediately, I could tell they were missionaries, but I wasn't sure if they were Baptist or Mormon. (Turns out they were Mormon.) I try to always be polite, so I thought I'd be able to get a word in at some point early in his spiel to kind of nicely shut him down. I was wrong.
Missionary: Do you believe is Jesus Christ?
H: Uhm, yes.*
Missionary: Ok, great! *eyes light up a little bit* Do you have a church you attend?
H: Yes.
Missionary: Oh. *pause* That's Catholic, right?
H: Yes.
Missionary: Well, I'd like to invite you to consider the word of Christ...
J: No offense, but we're really not interested.
H: We're trying to get some exercise before it gets dark and we're only at the beginning of our route, I'm sorry.
J: H, come on.
Missionary: Well, I'd like to offer you the chance to consider the Book of Mormon and another testament of Jesus Christ.
H: OK, well *politely takes offered card and shoves it in the stroller's basket*
We walked away and I was really upset. It's one thing when they come knocking on my door. I can choose not to answer, but to stop us while we were clearly out getting some exercise and fresh air (not to mention that the kids only have so much staying power and our walk takes a good 45 minutes) really annoyed me. Both young men had these creepy glassy-eyed stares and one didn't really say anything at all. J tried to reassure me that they're used to having doors closed on them and people not being interested in what they have to say, but I was trying to be polite and was never given the chance to say, "thanks, but no thanks." I know full well and respect the fact that not everyone believes as I do, but I felt really intruded upon and am still annoyed. Needless to say, the card inviting me to call an 800 number for my free Book of Mormon went straight in the recycling bin when we got home.
* The timing of this is interesting, though, because I've recently begun attending Mass on a regular basis and have a post brewing in my mind about my faith so now I feel even more compelled to get my thoughts down.
What do you do when put in an awkward position?
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The missionaries must be out lately because I was stopped by two last week. Glassy eyed stare is the perfect description, and one poor guy had one pant leg tucked into a sock.
When I said, "Thank you, but I'm not interested." Sock Boy said, in a tone of absolute incredulity, "You're not?!" His partner seemed to get that that meant, "Go away" and they left.
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