In which Marvin, attempting to sell a giant flat screen TV and share the Gospel of Jesus at the same time, ends up having to decide just how far he will go for the truth.
Last night I performed Transfigurations-Transgressing Gender in the Bible at Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church in Glen Mills, PA (about 15 miles outside of Philly). I had a diverse audience of about 45 people -- college students, Quakers, straight, bi, trans and lesbian, young and old. I took my time with the piece maintaining a gentle meditative pace. For the ending when I reveal the identity of the narrator, I had instructed the light tech to dim the lights. Then as the closing music swelled, I asked her to raise the lights to their brigthest intensity. With the music playing, I exited. Always (up until last night) at this point the audience applauds, I wait 5 seconds then come out to take a bow. Last night I exited and then nothing. No one clapped. They sat quietly as the music played. I stood back stage puzzled, baffled. Now what do I do? Wait? Go out anyway? And I wondered for a moment, Did they hate it? Did I confuse them? Offend them? Bore them into a coma? After what ...
Comments
I really don't think this is a matter of prosecution, I think it's a matter of you touting your personal beliefs in a professional environment, which just isn't appropriate. Although I have to say what that customer said to you was inappropriate too. Was he flirting with you or something?
I used to be a salesperson at an electronics store too. :) I have a better job now, hope you'll find one too.
Now, I have to tell you Marvin that I'm pretty certain that this persecution complex, while very prevelant these days, isn't really warranted here. At my job, I would be fired if I spoke that way to a customer. Or, let's say I was a gay person and I laid it on one of my customers really hard and he was offended. I would probably be in some hot water.
It doesn't matter how right our beliefs are, if we don't communicate them in an appropriate manner, then we've lost our audience. Having said that, we can't continue to look at the past. Now is the time to collect your unemployment (yes, humble yourself a bit, go back to your former employer and get the paper work you need), maybe expand your evangelistic work. Heck, maybe Randy Thomas over at Exodus would be interested in hiring you as a spokesperson. Randy's a good guy you know.
All the best Marvin!
j.
I am sorry you lost your job though. Keep faith, Mr. Marvin, and don't let all that harsh judgment you are laying on yourself spill over onto anyone else.
Peace and blessings,
I think that it's ironic that you work at an electronics store that sells gigantic flat screen televisions.
Kudos for putting that man with all the jewelry and designer clothes in his place. I probably would have done the same thing if someone said that to me when I was at work, because 1) it's inappropriate and rude to say such things to a sales representative at a store of any kind, 2) it's sexual harrassment, and 3) people selling to customers don't really care what they use the material object for, they are just there to sell the product, not listen to the life story of the customers. I agree that this would be an incident worth getting fired over.