Godsmacked at the Safeway

I left the kids in Hubbie's capable hands for the peace and quiet of the grocery store. We were out of milk, and I thought a quick trip while the kids had their bath would be a great time saver.

I was doing pretty well. Being efficient. Getting everything on the list. Until I decided I needed balsamic vinegar.

I finally found the correct aisle. Stood back to look for the right bottle. When a girl approached me.

She stood right between me and that vinegar.

I had seen her earlier in a different aisle. I remember that she looked directly at me. Like she knew me. Like she looked through me. Being new here in town I wondered if I had met her at the preschool or somewhere, but she didn't say anything.

Until now.

She said she wanted to ask me a question.

Oh shit. Here we go.

She started asking me questions about God. And I was all ready to tell her that I wasn't interested. Then she started in with the woman thing.

About the female aspect of God. About God being made in the likeness of man and woman.

Listening to her speak, I was freaked out to realize that I agreed with a lot of what she was saying.

But all I wanted was my goddamned balsamic vinegar.

Then she pulled her bible out of her purse.

I hate feeling like I have been stalked. Hunted. And that was how I felt. Cornered.

She thumbed to a couple of passages while I politely nodded. I told her I did not disagree with anything she was saying (read: Please leave me alone now. I am too hungry to be at the grocery store and my kids are waiting for their Jelly Bellys).

She wanted my contact info. I told her to give me hers. She and her friend (who had conveniently joined us) finally let me go. I grabbed my vinegar, paid and high-tailed it out to my car.

Except that I was reeling. I have never been approached by a Christian sect that proclaimed anything positive about women. Ever.

And it made me sad that this encounter at Safeway left me feeling such loss. That I felt so empty and acutely aware of the need for a positive spiritual feminine aspect to my faith.

I don't know what about me or my demeanor caused this chick to pick me out. I didn't realize I was wearing my gullible hat today. In a sense, I'm kind of glad she did approach me. As my daughter gets older I will have to help guide her through this world of religious zealots.

Mommy? Why is that man holding a bible and pointing at us and calling us whores? Because god loves us, sweetheart.

How do I teach my daughter to love and be good to others when the majority of world religions rate her second class because she has a uterus?

We should have been born Navajo.