THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010
Is it ok to ask about religion?
Today, I'm asking myself, "Is it ok to ask another person what religion they are?" I ask this question because today was quite a day for me. I had to go to US AIRWAYS corporate center and have a drug test done. When I arrived at their clinic, they had me fill out some forms, and then I waited until the nurse came and escorted me to this room, where she asked me to:
1st put my purse into a locker before I enter the bathroom.
2nd I Wash my hands without soap, take the plastic container and go to the bathroom.
3rd DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET. Confident in myself, I sat down and tinkled in the cup. When I came out, the nurse said, "That is not enough; you need to go out to the waiting room and drink water. When you are ready, we will take you back in."
I sat in the waiting room for an hour and a half. Finally, I asked, "Can I just come back tomorrow?" The nurse said, "If you do, we will have to write you down as a refusal to take the drug test, and that is grounds for termination." Quietly, I sat back down and waited for my body to process the water.
I drank about 15-20 cups of water, and I felt sick to my stomach, not to mention lightheaded. I then asked if I could go out to my car and get the strawberries and tomatoes I left in my vehicle. The answer was, "No, you cannot leave the clinic." I waited and watched a doctor's television show. I can tell you anything you need to know about diabetes, pesticides on your veggies and fruit, why organic is better for you, flossing your teeth, and colon cancer. Finally, I had to tinkle; I filled that cup up.
After 3 hours at the clinic, I needed to stop by TARGET on my way home. I was looking for my favorite pajamas. While in TARGET, Mayo Clinic called to ask me some info about a test I have coming up; she asked me who my oncologist was. I wasn't sure I heard her right, so I repeated, "Who is my oncologist?" I told her Doctor Norhtfelt; when I got off the phone, this girl, probably in her early 20s walked up to me and said, "excuse me, do you have cancer?" I replied, "yes, I do" she then said to me, "do you need a church to go to?" I politely told her, "no, but thank you for asking" she then said, "do you believe in GOD?"
I said, " I do" with a puzzled look on her face, she said, "what religion are you?" I politely said, "LDS, some know us as MORMONS." What happened next was shocking. She immediately covered her mouth with her hands and gasped for air. I said, "are you ok?" Tears filled her eyes, and she said, "OMG, that is the most awful, least Christian church on earth." Seriously? I didn't know what to say. How rude, I thought. Then she looked at me, put her arm around my shoulders as if to lead me out of HELL, and said, "I am going to save you; I can help you get away from your husband. We have shelters you can go to" at this point, I am so confused and irritated I told her to please leave me alone, and I walked away. I'm still not sure why she asked me about the VILLAIN; the only thing I can think of is that she could use it to start the conversation or that this young girl thought if I was going through treatments and I didn't have something to believe in that she could help me.
I'm ok with sharing what you believe in; there are missionaries of all religions who go door to door and express what they believe in. This past year I have met some of the most incredible Christians I have ever known; I've had people approach me at Mayo Clinic and ask if we can pray together, and right there in the middle of Mayo Clinic. We hug, bow our heads and say a prayer. More people than I can think have asked me for my name and if it would be ok if they took my name to their prayer circle. I'm always so touched when that happens. Because we are different religions, do I think those prayers are not being heard by GOD? Absolutely not, just the opposite; some of the most sincere, pure prayers I have ever heard have come from strangers who have faith and love for the same Heavenly Father that I believe in. This is what I think, people are good, most people believe in something, and everyone should be true to themselves. I will never limit relationships to those who share my same religion; there is so much to learn and many beautiful people to learn from.
We should all be tolerant and respectful to others in life no matter what they believe in or don't believe in. Tell another person that what they believe in is WRONG and that you have all the answers is even more WRONG. If I have ever made someone feel like what they believe in is silly or less important than what I believe in, please let me say, "I am sincerely sorry" I felt so awful today. I was personally and spiritually attacked; I never want anyone to ever feel what I felt today.
5 COMMENTS 
Today, I'm asking myself, "Is it ok to ask another person what religion they are?" I ask this question because today was quite a day for me. I had to go to US AIRWAYS corporate center and have a drug test done. When I arrived at their clinic, they had me fill out some forms, and then I waited until the nurse came and escorted me to this room, where she asked me to:
1st put my purse into a locker before I enter the bathroom.
2nd I Wash my hands without soap, take the plastic container and go to the bathroom.
3rd DO NOT FLUSH THE TOILET. Confident in myself, I sat down and tinkled in the cup. When I came out, the nurse said, "That is not enough; you need to go out to the waiting room and drink water. When you are ready, we will take you back in."
I sat in the waiting room for an hour and a half. Finally, I asked, "Can I just come back tomorrow?" The nurse said, "If you do, we will have to write you down as a refusal to take the drug test, and that is grounds for termination." Quietly, I sat back down and waited for my body to process the water.
I drank about 15-20 cups of water, and I felt sick to my stomach, not to mention lightheaded. I then asked if I could go out to my car and get the strawberries and tomatoes I left in my vehicle. The answer was, "No, you cannot leave the clinic." I waited and watched a doctor's television show. I can tell you anything you need to know about diabetes, pesticides on your veggies and fruit, why organic is better for you, flossing your teeth, and colon cancer. Finally, I had to tinkle; I filled that cup up.
After 3 hours at the clinic, I needed to stop by TARGET on my way home. I was looking for my favorite pajamas. While in TARGET, Mayo Clinic called to ask me some info about a test I have coming up; she asked me who my oncologist was. I wasn't sure I heard her right, so I repeated, "Who is my oncologist?" I told her Doctor Norhtfelt; when I got off the phone, this girl, probably in her early 20s walked up to me and said, "excuse me, do you have cancer?" I replied, "yes, I do" she then said to me, "do you need a church to go to?" I politely told her, "no, but thank you for asking" she then said, "do you believe in GOD?"
I said, " I do" with a puzzled look on her face, she said, "what religion are you?" I politely said, "LDS, some know us as MORMONS." What happened next was shocking. She immediately covered her mouth with her hands and gasped for air. I said, "are you ok?" Tears filled her eyes, and she said, "OMG, that is the most awful, least Christian church on earth." Seriously? I didn't know what to say. How rude, I thought. Then she looked at me, put her arm around my shoulders as if to lead me out of HELL, and said, "I am going to save you; I can help you get away from your husband. We have shelters you can go to" at this point, I am so confused and irritated I told her to please leave me alone, and I walked away. I'm still not sure why she asked me about the VILLAIN; the only thing I can think of is that she could use it to start the conversation or that this young girl thought if I was going through treatments and I didn't have something to believe in that she could help me.
I'm ok with sharing what you believe in; there are missionaries of all religions who go door to door and express what they believe in. This past year I have met some of the most incredible Christians I have ever known; I've had people approach me at Mayo Clinic and ask if we can pray together, and right there in the middle of Mayo Clinic. We hug, bow our heads and say a prayer. More people than I can think have asked me for my name and if it would be ok if they took my name to their prayer circle. I'm always so touched when that happens. Because we are different religions, do I think those prayers are not being heard by GOD? Absolutely not, just the opposite; some of the most sincere, pure prayers I have ever heard have come from strangers who have faith and love for the same Heavenly Father that I believe in. This is what I think, people are good, most people believe in something, and everyone should be true to themselves. I will never limit relationships to those who share my same religion; there is so much to learn and many beautiful people to learn from.
We should all be tolerant and respectful to others in life no matter what they believe in or don't believe in. Tell another person that what they believe in is WRONG and that you have all the answers is even more WRONG. If I have ever made someone feel like what they believe in is silly or less important than what I believe in, please let me say, "I am sincerely sorry" I felt so awful today. I was personally and spiritually attacked; I never want anyone to ever feel what I felt today.
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