I had a strange experience that bothers me.

A woman came to my house standing in my yard yesterday looking around.

I went out in a very friendly manner and asked her if I could help.

She asked me about the people that had lived there before and how their son had died in a shooting.

She said she just wanted to tell them that she is praying for them and give them some prayer poems that she had written.

I was impressed and had found this to be very nice.

Well she handed me some material and I accepted graciously. I explained that I am an Agnostic but that I pray anyways just in case................

After telling her this she seemed very uncomfortable and kept backing up as I was getting closer to her and looked afraid.

I really liked her and was trying to show her this.

My daughter watched this and said "Mommy, I think that woman was afraid of you." (after the fact)

Do you think it's because of what I told her ?

She was practically leaving skidmarks. She was very nervous and seemed to want to run away and kept looking at the car across the street with a man in it, observing it all.

I usually have people react very comfortably to me.

Maybe she could sense how it's not my pet religion >BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF ME. You could tell she was a sweety.

Funny thing is I told my daughter that someone would probably be coming by very soon preaching the word -three days before this.

I also had seen her paintings all around town and had been wanting to meet the artist. She had a copy showing me these paintings

Weird to say the least.

I think i will go see her and buy a painting from her and see if she warms up to me.

Salaam (Peace)

I think its a good idea to go see her, and buy a painting. Maybe it was the Agnostic thing, some religious people have never knowingly met an Agnostic or Atheist, or even an Occultist for that matter. I have gotten some frightened reactions when revealing that I am Muslim, and a lot of other reactions. A religious person might say meeting her is a sign of some kind, but I'm guessing you don't go there huh? Anyway, she seemed to have really made an impression on you, I guess we can all question "Gods" existence to some degree, but we do know that Faith is real, and that is has a definite effect. Really cool story, please update!?!

I would say leave her alone. She is not some pet who is afraid and you have to try and have it warm up to you. She has her reasons. You might cause injury to her spirit. Then again maybe it will be good for you but her feelings should be considered too.

Its hard to say what causes fear in people and even harder to read people. There could be a million reasons she was fearful and a million and one you percieved her as being such kind of like when you see someone you recognize or who is familiar to you but cannot for the life of you explain it or understand it and maybe its not to be understood and maybe it is. If it were me I would send her good thoughts through the wind, people do feel it like prayers and if it urks you so much, her reaction than it is up to you to decide to visit her. Sometimes things are better left alone and sometimes things are better dug up who is to say but you?

Oh well, I'll just have to say there's people like that. Personally, I don't think she should've been afraid of you. Fear leads to anger, avoidance, and hatred, exactly what God said not to do. Jesus was sent for people with little faith, not the ones who are already saved. There are many different people in this world and we have to make the best of it.

Bless your heart, MLOR! I'm, personally, not surprised at her reaction. I think it depends on how programmed, or how deep a person is within their beliefs/religion.. and of course depending what they believe. Ignorance on their part, and even more hypocritical. imo.
I'm not surprised because I know of family members who would react the same way- and No! I'm not proud of the fact.

I think your heart is in the right place . I have to hand it over to you- Many would be offended, but I solute you and your attitude about the whole thing.

again, Solute!

It may not have had anything to do with you and everything to do with the man in the car. Having worked with battered women the first thing I would have thought is that maybe he doesn't want her talking to strangers and or that she was taking too long.

telling her you're agnostic was probably unnecessary... I think the appropriate remark when she handed you the material would have been "thank you" nothing more, nothing less.

I don't quite understand the exchange that took place... did she show up looking for the people who used to live there? Or did she want to talk to you specifically?

Which is what I would've done. Most of my closest friends and I don't talk about religion....I wouldn't even think of telling a stranger something so personal.

I hear ya Michelle... totally. When people come to my door peddling religion, I don't tell them my beliefs, it's none of their business (and frankly, they don't care anyway). I don't talk religion with any of my friends either--well except my former father-in-law, but only because he's fascinating, used to be a jesuit priest and has a doctorate in theology. *shrugs*

Life is too short for all that kinda crap!

Not that I think religion is crap....

She obviously doesn't like you for some reason so leave her alone...I don't see the big deal.

Actually I thought about that too.

But I asked her if it was her husband and she said no that it was a friend. It seemed more like he was her lifeguard the way she acted.

She seemed more confused than anything, actually.

edited for thinking out loud-it wasn't naughty I promise

That's how I see it pretty much.

In other words, no idea, just lots of possibilities.

Makes life more interesting but I'm still puzzeled.

It shouldn't matter but yet it should.

I felt she wanted more from me until I gave her that answer.

Maybe she saw the skepticism written all over my face.

I wanted to know about her, not her beliefs.

Thanks for all your answers.

Lets move on, shall we ?

Why do you judge this a strange reaction? In your life, is this actually an unusual reaction?
If so, then with respect, you have either been very lucky, or lived a very sheltered life. Peole's reactions are innately unpredictable, particularly when you dont know anything about them, upon which to make predictive judgements
Once i too was like this, then in my late teens i was doing some university field work in the orchard blocks along the river murray.


I had to ask people simple demographic questions. All was going well until i met a man, who grabbed a gun, and started ranting about fascism, and never being persecuted again. I was backing out as gracefully as i could, when i noticed a number tatooed on his arm. I asked, as politely as i could, "are you a survivor of the death camps?" (sometimes my curiousity/need to know overcomes even my survival instincts)

I could see his face transform. "What does a child like you know of the death camps?" he asked.

An hour later we were still chatting, with a glass of fresh crushed orange juice each. He had long ago apologised for his reaction and i had told him i found it perfectly understandable. We talked about the camps and his distrust of any govt/bureaucracy. I never got a form from him, but i learned one of those unforgettable and life transforming lessons instead. A more than fair transaction.

You should see the reactions I get. If I want to see skid marks across the lawn I tell them I am a witch. I think if you truly like the woman's art you should go see her and buy some. Every artist likes their work admired.