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Non-denom nom nom.

I knew how things would go down even as he walked down the steps. I tried to bury myself in the Sudoku puzzle--which I hate doing--when he walked up next to me. I took a quick glance at his shirt. Hell is REAL, it read. "Have you repented for your sins?" He asked. "Did you know that Jesus Christ our Lord and savior died for your sins? Did you know if you live a life of sin you will go to Hell?" And before I could think of anything to say, I said, "I know the word of the Lord."

And so began my 20 minute conversation with the Hellfire preacher.

But it really wasn't that good of a story or an experience except for the fact that it made me think about stuff. Entirely unrelated to what I was doing at the time. Because I was in auto-pilot mode. The mode where I detach my mind from my mouth and carry on full conversations with people without actually being invested in it. I realized I've gotten very good at it. I just don't process anything they say and just sort of respond in such a way that it's random but still makes sense in context. I don't get anything out of it and don't actually put anything into it, but they walk away thinking it was a legitimate conversation with somebody who really cared about what was being said. It's sort of a mean thing to do, I guess.

But I've gotten pretty good at those things too.

"Well, I won't hold you anymore," he said. "And I wasn't telling you all that stuff because I'm looking for pity or anything." I cut him off and shook his hand. "The Lord will provide." I said. He looked up at me as he shook my hand. He looked like he was about to cry. "Thank you," he said. "Thank you so much. It was great to meet you, Jack."

I smiled back at him once as I walked down the stairs and back home where I ate lunch.

Comments

Carolynn said…
Is the Gabe Earnest Listening Face a lie? ;~;
October 24, 2011 at 10:43 AM
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