Witnesses

Gone are the Fuller Brush and Avon representatives of the past but I actually get occasional door-to-door salespeople where I live now and I go to the door when somebody rings the bell or knocks. This morning it was two people representing the Jehovah Witnesses. Salespeople of a sort, I guess. Selling religion. I had a friend where we lived before this who always asked them in though she had no intention of joining their church. She had health issues and maybe she was just grateful to have someone listen to her but after a while they came to know her and stopped asking her about her beliefs or telling her theirs. They continued to visit and ask how she was. My dad had no intention of becoming a Witness either but he often invited them in. He liked questioning, or maybe challenging, their faith. I wasn’t about to do that but the two who came to my door yesterday were a man and a woman, both bordering on what I would call “elderly”. They were nice people. I told them I was familiar with their religion and I added that I wasn’t interested but I have respect for what they do. I mean, it takes guts to cold call people and tell them about your belief system. I haven’t ever done that for religion but I sure have for political reasons and I know what it feels like to have a door closed in your face. So yeah, I respect them for what they do and I know I’m not personally above it if I decide an occasion calls for it. Plus, I don”t believe there’s a reason to be rude. The couple thanked me for being so kind and the man gave me a small paper with a biblical quote. That was it. No proselytizing. They shook my hand, smiled, and went down the street. I’m still not joining their religion but the whole interaction made me feel good.

Photo courtesy Noel_Bauza at Pixabay.com