But you do believe in God, right?
April 15th, 20077 a.m. on a Saturday morning is early enough that the regular entrance to my local Walgreen’s isn’t open yet. Instead, you have to walk through the exit door, passing the security guard on your way in so he can keep track of who is in the store.
Fine, no big deal. I just wanted to grab some cat food and get on with my day. But the security guard needed to know something first. “Are you a Christian?” he asked when I walked in. I smiled politely and went straight to the Pet Needs aisle. When I came back to pay, there was nobody to check me out. “I’ll call her,” the guard said. And then, “Praise Jesus” when the cashier appeared.
“Don’t mind him,” she said. “He always does that.” I laughed, but he didn’t seem to be joking. “Are you a Catholic?” I had to tell him I wasn’t. “Muslim? Buddhist?” I shook my head no.
With one last wild guess he inquired, “Hindu?” First time for everything, I guess… but I bet it’s the last time anyone guesses that about me.
“Okay,” he conceded. “But you do believe in God, right?”
Well, that’s where casual conversation usually ends. I tried to find some tactful way to wriggle out of it. “Why are you asking?”
He gestured towards the checkout girl. “She doesn’t even believe in God! Isn’t that weird? Isn’t that rare?”
“No,” I said, scooping up my purchases and heading for the door. “It’s not that rare and it’s a personal choice that she gets to make for herself.” Last thing I saw was the satisfied smile on the cashier’s face, and I could only imagine that the security guard’s jaw hit the floor.
Eeek.
What do you do when you’re put on the spot like that if you don’t have an easy “yes” or “no” answer?
