Featured Incident at Work Yesterday

WHEW! It just breaks my heart. There are some things that leave you gasping for air because they just seem so far fetched.

Lord forgive them and help us in our day to day walk and interactions to not be guilty of the same thing.

 

No doubt we'd have become well acquainted with each others' knuckles.

But you didn't answer my question. Were these seven individuals disruptive?

 

That is very disturbing, but also a very common attitude and part of what makes it very difficult for parents and caregivers to find a place to worship.

You handled it right for the sake of those you were with, letting them eat without them getting upset at the time.

I'd write a simple letter to addressed to the church and be sure to include the part mentioned above about their mothers choosing life. Lots of people scream about choosing life, then act like complete jerks to the same babies they called "precious" once they grow up. Just let them know it was unappreciated and not how it should be. They KNOW that, but a reminder is always a good thing. People are often afraid to tell people their behavior stinks. At least this way they'll think about it and maybe at least curb it. Maybe one will even think about it enough to change. Who knows.

Now on a humorous note, a developmentally disabled young friend wanted to show me today that his friend was dancing. He tends to use a lot of body language to express his words, and to get your attention, he will poke you first and then start showing you what he's saying. He doesn't THINK about WHERE he pokes you.
So I got a poke that would make most anyone turn purple and he started his dance.
And I just happened to be standing in a large open area.
With over a thousand people seated on either side. :laugh:
But for him, nobody else was there. What can you do?! I danced a little with him and he moved on to his seat. ROFL

Don't tell me sitting across from someone in a restaurant setting is just not tolerable. Humans are humans. Deal with it. If you get involved, or at least learn about different humans, life can be pretty fun. And funny. And cool. And interesting. And much, much richer. I can't imagine not knowing some of my friends, some who smile every day despite living among people who don't even want to sit next to them simply because they're them. UGH! Have you ever been asked to get up and move at a restaurant because someone didn't like how you looked, and the restaurant actually complied and asked you to move? Can you imagine what that would be like? If that's how people act in public, can you imagine how they act in private?

 

S/N, if you talk to the pastor I doubt if the message will ever get to the offenders in his congregation. Have you considered doing a letter to the editor for publication in the local newspaper? You might even name the church involved. In it you could relate what happened, somewhat like you did here, and then explain why their behavior is NOT what Jesus would do. The letter should not have an angry tone, but should show sincere concern for all involved. If the paper will publish it, I can guarantee it will be read and will have a more far reaching effect than just the people in that one church.

 

They are mentally- and physically-challenged adults, so you should expect that they might be a little less refined than the Country Club crowd. At the same time, I've known mentally- and physically-challenged adults to be more "proper" than some church folks.

The Kingdom of God is open to people of all types and in all kinds of situations. Should not the church live that out in daily practice by being open to even those who are a bit rowdy and don't have it all together?

What would Jesus do in that situation? My feel confident that He would join those who have "greater" obvious needs than those in the religious community. He would have sat with SN (if invited/allowed) and invested His life in them.

I'm working with a young man who has severe mental illness issues who suddenly showed up at the door of our church a couple of months ago. We welcomed him in and have worked out his history with his family and are taking appropriate precautions for a couple of issues. He has been attending faithfully ever since and each Sunday/Wednesday so can see him growing in confidence and healing in small increments. A couple of weeks ago, during the greeting of the visitors and the church body, he wandered away from me toward the middle of the congregation to greet people and was warmly welcomed and hugged by many of our senior citizens. (I need to add that he is a musician and performs punk rock, so he has a rather strange hairstyle with a decidedly unnatural color on one side of his head.) When he returned a few minutes later, he sat down next to me and whispered, "I'm important!" I said, "Yes you are. You are important to God and you are important to this church." He smiled and visibly relaxed. I think he has mostly known rejection over the past few years, both for his appearance and the shame he feels over his mental illness. He is finding healing in the simple love and acceptance of the people of God.

 

SN did speak to this in his post #21. The answer was no.

 

I imagine those Baptist senior citizen diners do these things too, or soon will.

 

SN, Monday morning quarterbacking here. Unless the server told me the room was reserved for a private group I would have refused to move. You were trying not to make a scene. I applaud that. I know my personality type and causing a scene would be justified in my opinion. How dare supposed believers would act in such a deplorable manner. I would hsve done what Paul did to Peter and confront them to their face.

Shameful, shameful, shameful!

 

I would say call!

 

Personally, I would let it pass and leave it the Lord's hands.

Let your stare haunt them.

If you connect with their pastor it may even turn uglier.


HankD

 

Typical ......and I would have been in YOURS

 

Absolutely!

These types do more harm to the Gospel than atheists, feminists and gay rights advocates could ever dream of doing.

I PROMISE you Jesus would not have let it go!