Manuel

Something really funny happened today. For the first time, I've been offended in a language that isn't my own. I've been learning Spanish with one of our employees over the past couple of months. He doesnt speak any English. It has come out on several occasions that he is a christian and he attends a church in the area. Last week he told me I wasn't a christian because I had tatoos'. He said it was ok now that I was a christian, but now I just have to keep them covered. Today was the good one though. For some reason he asked me about beer. He was like do you drink? I was like of course. Megusta New Castle Mi Amigo. And then in Spanish, he began to tell me that I was a luke-warm christian, and that I probably didn't read my Bible very much. Damn, I wish I was more fluent. The ironic part was, this was coming from the guy who is aqui illegally, and getting paid illegally. In the south, it's really reassuring for us to quit a few outward things and feel good about our "spiritual process." It is way harder to trust that God can save us. Its like we have this christian check list. You dont cuss...check...you dont drink...check....bla bla...blaa... Hopefully in the process we don't take people out who are genuinely on the path of righteousness. Thankfully I and am secure in who I am, but this happens everyday in people's southern experience.