So, he grabs me on the shoulder and starts praying over me

[half guard]

I spent close to a decade combined serving as a youth, children, and assistant pastor of two different churches. I don't need to go into all the details here, but lets just say that working as a minister unfortunately opens you up to all of the petty, ugly, cruel, etc etc in people and you really see things with the blinders off. Needless to say, I no longer work in the ministry and don't plan on doing so ever again.

I think it was Gandhi who said something to the effect of "I like your Christ, but not your Christians".

Fast-forward to this afternoon where I'm walking down the hallway towards the doctor's office to drop a payment off. A guy who attends the church that I spent the majority of my time serving at is walking my way and waves as he recognizes me. I shake his hand and say hello. He makes the basic pleasantries asking how my family is, etc and as I'm telling him that they're okay, he grabs my shoulder with one hand, raises his other hand towards the ceiling, closes his eyes, and starts praying over me LOUDLY.

I'm not the least ashamed of my asshole nature, but this guy is 60+ years old and fried his brain years ago between heavy drug and alcohol use. Part of me wanted to smack his hand away and say something, but I felt bad for the guy and couldn't bring myself to do it.

I just stood there quietly, let him finish, then shook his hand and told him goodbye. It was just so random and awkward.

[Black Roman]

Oy, this has happened to me. It's always really awkward.

[Jim T.]

For some reason, I pictured that guy as Blue from Old School, which made this even funnier :)

[Doc Randy]

At first I thought you wrote:

"So, he grabs me on the shoulder and starts spraying over me."

Totally different meaning.

[Kingsumo]

How awkward.

:?

[Bill Nolan]

Awkward, but his intentions seem, at least to me, have been pure. I tend to not explode at people who are trying to do something nice for me, even if I hate it. Just wait until it's over and move on.

[half guard]

Awkward, but his intentions seem, at least to me, have been pure. I tend to not explode at people who are trying to do something nice for me, even if I hate it. Just wait until it's over and move on.

Yeah, that's how I saw it. He obviously meant well and it wasn't like he was a complete stranger.

It was just so random that in mid-sentence he went from casual conversation straight into thundering televangelist mode.

[The Dean]

I was hoping your story would end with some sort of martial arts move that I've never heard of before.

Maybe a move called, "The Hail Mary."

[Black Roman]

I was hoping your story would end with some sort of martial arts move that I've never heard of before.

Maybe a move called, "The Hail Mary."

Oh, I am so stealing that. :lol:

[TIP]

At first I thought you wrote:

"So, he grabs me on the shoulder and starts spraying over me."

Totally different meaning.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/tiptone/gonnablow.jpg