A funny thing happened on the way to the DMV...

christiangirl · #1 07-12-2005, 08:55 PM

I stopped at a gas station to give my car a little pick me up and I had the weirdest experience I've had in a looooong time...

An older man (think white hair) called out to me, "Do you read your Bible everyday?" Being polite, I answered, "not everyday, but often" and he told me that I should start reading everyday b/c Jesus is coming. I thought, was that random or could he tell I'm a Christian? Did he see my cross necklace and felt prompted to speak? A little weird, but I didn't think much of it, just kept walking.

When he was done getting gas, he pulled his car up to the exit way and stopped in front of me. I kept my back to him, thinking he was waiting to pull out into traffic, but soon saw him walking over to me...he wasn't waiting, he'd BLOCKED MY CAR IN AT THE PUMP. He came over, shook me hand and proceeded to interrogate me about my spiritual life. I hesistantly answered his questions, not wanting to be rude since he was so old, but not going into detail either, I just wanted him to back up. He asked me if I was saved, where I went to church, etc. He wouldn't stop shaking my hand, so I gently pulled it back. He kept talking to me about how important it was for me to have a relationship with God and reached out, took my hand back, and immediately started to pray for me, telling me to repeat what he was saying. I tried to explain that I'd already prayed the prayer of salvation, this wasn't all necessary, but he stopped talking to me and started talking to God, still clutching my hand. I looked around to see if there was anybody around I could yell to, but thought, "it's just an old man trying to pray with me." At first, I was suppressing laughter, but then started to get nervous as he got more excited. I hesitated to repeat his words, getting more uncomfortable by the second, but I guess he took this as a sign that I needed more help to pray b/c he asked me to repeat even more phrases asking God to come into my life. This went on for about a minute and he still wouldn't let go, so I helped him get the message. After I took my hand back (a bit more forcefully) he said "God bless you, sister" and hugged me and then kissed me on the cheek, all in one motion! It happened so fast I didn't have time to step back. At that point, enough was enough, I pulled away from him, slid into my car as I told him good-bye and rolled up the window. Before he let me out, he gently admonished me about what was coming from my radio (nelly or somebody similar) and told me to cut off the noise and stay in the Word.

Once he moved his car, I couldn't get away quick enough.

Now, I know he's a fellow Christian, but that was bizarre. I was so desparately uncomfortable, but his age had me confused on how to handle it. I understand he said he just wanted to share the gospel (he said he was a priest, but I have my doubts) and if he was legit, I'm thankful to meet a fellow brother in Christ, but...

More than anything, I can't help but think this is a prime example of why people think Christians are CRAZY.

mulattogyrl · #2 07-13-2005, 09:12 AM

This IS weird. It would have scared me. I had a similar experience recently when I was leaving CVS. Some man came up to me talking about he was starting a church and he wanted me to join. How did he know whether or not I was Christian? Then he wanted me to follow him to his van so he could write down his number. Girl, I was like oh no! I had my daughter with me too so I started getting nervous. But his van was parked right by my car (ironic, right) and he gave me his number. I'm glad I haven't seen him since.

Honeykiss1974 · #3 07-13-2005, 11:44 AM

Something like that has happened to me but it was Jehovah's Witnesses outside of the gas station. For some reason its always Jehovah's Witnesses with me though.

Anyway, I was coming out of the gas station and 2 old ladies bum rushed me and handed me a Watchtower. I just said "no thanks - I know Jesus" and kept walking. They tried to follow me but I just kept walking saying a quick scripture under my breath. I felt bad, but oh well.

Christiangirl, I know you didn't want to be rude to the old man, but we need to be CAREFUL regarding who "lays hands" on us - especially if you were getting a "not so good/comfortable" feeling from that person. Next time, just snatch your hand back and roll out or sit in your car with the window rolled up until they leave (I know you don't have any A/C

lol ). That man would have freaked me out too.

RedefinedDiva · #4 07-13-2005, 12:34 PM

I understand that people want to spread the word, but in times like these, you can't ever be too careful. Anyone can claim to be a "prophet" or whatever, but everyone is not comfortable with people "preaching" to them. I appreciate a simple "God Bless You" here and there, but I don't like people to question me about my religion, beliefs, etc., nor do I want them to tell me about what I need to do in order to get right with God. God can speak to me and when it's time to be done, it will be.

Secondly, it's all about approach. When folks approach you in parking lots and gas stations, it's definitely scary, especially when they block in your car!!

I don't think God wants someone to spead the Word to a person that is terrified. Just reading your story and thinking about how I know I would have reacted, I know that you probably was more focused on finding a way out of the situation than on what he was saying. That defeats the purpose of whatever he was trying to get across. Holding your hand, hugging, and kissing you against your will is NOT going to make you rush home and read the Bible. If anything, it would have made me more apprehensive of people who approach me in hopes of speading the Word. I would just be thinking about that incident.

Like I said, with people today, you never know. He could have been some sort of freak that gets off on touching women. That's too strange.

christiangirl · #5 07-13-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
Secondly, it's all about approach. When folks approach you in parking lots and gas stations, it's definitely scary, especially when they block in your car!! I don't think God wants someone to spead the Word to a person that is terrified.

I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!?! I'm telling you, everytime I think about it, I start hearing "Get back, get back, you don't know me like that" playing over and over in my head. At first, I thought the whole thing was rather funny, I was (unsuccessfully) suppressing laughter for a while, then things very quickly turned to "QUIT TOUCHING ME

" standards. The only thing that makes me think he may have been sincere is that this was in broad daylight and the station was crowded, most people don't try stuff under that circumstances. Now still, that might not mean much, but if it'd been at night, I'd have just run his car over trying to get away, if it comes to that, it comes to that.

I, personally, would have rather been "bumrushed" by the little old ladies.

#6 07-14-2005, 09:47 PM

Test the spirit by the spirit. I agree with what has been stated. If you got an uncomfortable feeling and you are a christian, maybe that was sign that you needed to get to steppin'. I mean, politely excuse yourself from his presence and leave. Honeykiss is right in that we need to be careful who lays their hands on us in a spiritual manner. Everybody who says their a prophet are NOT!

RedMusiq4U · #7 07-15-2005, 02:59 AM

Amen......you all better preach up in here!