Post #3420878

Last week, when it was cooler, I took a walk and saw a couple of Mormon missionaries approaching me. I was prepared and said to them in cheerful English, in response to their local-language greeting, "I'm not the right person for this conversation!" and kept walking. However, let it be said that I have empathy for the individuals far from home, appreciation for their dedication to learning the language, and I give a nod to their politeness and tidy grooming. "Why not?" I heard one call after me, a little plaintively. They knew they had already lost the catch, but they were put off guard by my familiar speech. We probably secretly wanted to talk to each other about non-spiritual things. (And indeed, I wanted to pepper them with questions about their experience, their motivations, and their perspective shifts.) The rest of my walk home, I thought about what I might answer to that "Why not?" Because I have faith in myself. Because I need nobody else to help me develop or ascribe to a values system. Because it's hard enough not being pigeonholed in the christo-patriarchal system even when you don't buy into it. Because I'm searching for personal meaning, not one that is pre-packaged. Because, because, because.