“I need to speak to the Jedi Council. The situation has become much more complicated.” – Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
I forget sometimes that I’m not considered OK by the majority of the homeschoolers that I meet around town, that I’m considered to be somehow defective – like a transmission that knocks and needs to be “fixed”. I wish it weren’t so, but I was reminded of it again today at Padawan Learner’s trampoline class. Before I go any further, let me say that I like these people. They are friendly and sociable, obviously love their kids, and are generally all-around, quite decent people.
Alright, back to my not-a-rant. As a couple of the moms sat around chatting, talk among them turned to Facebook. (I was half listening while I finished reading an article on math instruction. Yes, I am that exciting). They talked about who they have as friends, what their privacy settings are, who can see what, about keeping tabs on their kids and their kids’ friends, and getting back in touch with people from high school, college, and such this way. One mom laughingly mentioned that she sometimes worries about what her more conservative friends will think about her when they see pictures (e.g., devil costume on Halloween) or read comments (“Check out my belly piercing!”) from a former roommate of hers. She went on to explain that her friend isn’t a Christian, but is “just the nicest, sweetest, most loving and wonderful woman in the world.” She then explained that God has put it on her heart to make this friend her “little project”. Well, that caught my attention. She continued with a little laugh, “I need to ‘fix her up’ into a right relationship with Jesus.” The other women gave little laughs of understanding.
Since it was time to go anyway, I stood up, put my coat on and gently said, “I don’t know if you realize it, but like your friend I am not a Christian either. And I certainly wouldn’t want to think that someone considered me their ‘little project’.” And then I left. I didn’t rant and I didn’t rave, but I didn’t sit back and just ignore it like I normally would either.
I have friends in town and online that are Christian; I know that this attitude isn’t universal. That said, I do hope none of them consider me their “little project.” It’s very degrading to be called a “project,” even if its only in someone’s mind. So I said something today – came out, if you will – amongst a very evangelical group of Christians. That may cast Padawan Learner and I as undesirables among the homeschooling trampoline crowd, but I’m glad I said it.
I just don’t know what the fall-out will be. The situation there has become much more complicated.
