Blunt Wit

I have always been a bit of a cultural chameleon, taking on the hues of whatever environment I find myself in. I guess some would derisively say I change colors too readily, while others would beamingly suggest I have an overabundance of sticky enthusiasm.

But I guess if you change convictions like laundry detergent then how the hell do you maintain certitude? That is nowhere more apparent than religion.

I consider myself in that ever-widening ’spiritual but not particularly religious’ camp. I grew up, however, smack dab in the middle of the Judeo-Christian tradition. You know, the cinching bible belt of the South. I do believe there were more Baptist churches per square mile than people in my home town. In fact, I passed by one not long ago that had a ‘for sale’ sign out front. I wondered out loud,

“Does the congregation come with the building?”

Heck, I’d consider buying it just to have my own flock to shepherd. I couldn’t give’em hellfire and damnation but sure as heck could give them a good blog posting.

So forgive my religiously tinted meanderings.  Now to today’s rambling blog.

A while back we were camping in the mountains. Everyone got busy fishing or napping or doing whatever you do on a lazy weekend when I lit upon an idea that had been burning a hole in my soul since we first arrived. You see as we turned onto the road to the campground we passed a small makeshift enclosure with several really happy, wavy people standing behind two big igloo liquid containers and a sign that read “Free Ice Water!”

I wondered just what their shtick was … what were they up to? I mean, nobody just gives away free ice water for nothing, do they?

So to answer this question, I set off under a burning sun and hiked the several miles to their modest little stand. Once there I was met by Bruce and his companions. They were from the Baptist church just over yonder.

“The bible says that by ministering a man a cup of water you save a soul,” Bruce pinged at me.

“So start pourin and I’ll start savin!” I ponged back.

I proceed to gulp down 10 glasses of ice cold, spirit refreshing water.

On the walk back to our campsite my soul savin ways caught up with me and I had to duck into the underbrush to relieve myself. Back on the road, I thought, “Funny, they didn’t even preach or try to save my soul. They seemed to be more genuinely interested in quenching my thirst.” Real charity, I mused, comes (or is offered) with no strings attached.

So have you benefited from/perpetrated a charitable act recently? Details?

What religion do you consider yourself? One a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your faith?