today my sister helped me get groceries. my vehicle is out of commission due to a recent car accident. I decided to show her my "Ministers" wallet card & proof of my ability, in the eyes of the state to solemnize marriages. she then proceeded to say something along the lines of
"Minister of what? Paganism isn't a REAL religion, so how can you be a minister of nothing?"
I don't think she realizes how deeply she hurt me. she is one of the Christians who think her way is the ONLY way and anything else simply isn't real. at the time I was simply stunned to the point of a "yeah whatever" type of response & change of subject.
I blew it off but the more I think on it now? the more it hurts and angers me. because I’m not following HER brand of Christianity, or any brand of it, then my beliefs are tripe? WHAT?
she's a good woman but has VERY strong beliefs about things and hasn't an issue saying something about it. this is one of the reasons she and I aren't closer. her intolerance to anything she doesn't believe in. Christmas dinner at her house, I bow my head even though she is praying to a "GOD" I don't believe in. do I call her religion silly? childish? nothing? no, I respect her choice of faith. side note: I go to the family "DO" and celebrate "Christmas " as a family tradition rather than a religious one. if anything I celebrate Yule.
I am considered the family "Flake" I don't follow the typical Christian family path.
I don't think I will talk to her much more than I do now. I love her dearly but obviously she needs to open her eyes a bit more. she is 13 yrs older than me and has a different world view than I do.
just because my religion is more intuitive and the rules aren't laid out rigidly doesn't mean it's not worthwhile. I have BEEN Wiccan since I was 18 yrs old. Well really, I have been this way my whole life, it just took me getting out on my own to figure out that my souls path had a name. so by her words today, I’ve spent nearly if not more than 20 yrs worshiping/believing nothing? C'mon!!
and if I didn't love her so much this wouldn't hurt me nearly as much.
thanks for letting me vent.
