You all know that I'm a graduate student, and as such, I'm usually pretty busy doing something that has to do with school. If I'm not doing my actual homework, you will probably find me reading a book related to my field of interest or planning out ideas for future research. Therefore, the times that I actually do get to sleep in, nap, or just relax are few and far between and pretty precious. As it turns out, this past week although it's been bitterly cold in central Indiana, I've had the luck of receiving several Christian solicitors from a few churches in my neighborhood. Now, I am totally in support of fund raising drives and information pamphlets if that's what a church community decides to do, however the visits that I received had nothing to do with either of these things.

I was woken up early this past Saturday morning, again during an afternoon nap, and I was interrupted while working on a paper for class, and in each case, the individuals from the churches who showed up at my door didn't really have anything to say. In the first case, the individuals...all grown men likely in their thirties...wanted to know if I happened to have anything or anyone that I wanted to them to pray about. I immediately learned what their technique was, since they were trying to start this type of religious conversation so they could get an invitation into my house and an open opportunity to say their piece. I did my best not to be rude, but I kindly explained that I was perfectly capable of praying for who and what I needed to on my own...and on my own time. It took a few tries at denying them something to pray for, but I think that I finally got my point across to them and they left. Apparently they made quite a lasting impression on my across the hall neighbors as well, since later that day I noticed a "No solicitors, Do Not Disturb" sign on their door as I left to run out for groceries.

The two other instances that I mentioned above in which I was disturbed went much the same way. By the third time, I was pretty noticeably irritated as the gentleman who knocked on my door only had this to say..."Hi, I'm James from First Church of XXXXX, I was just wondering if you'd like to talk". I wanted to ask him if he was joking, because I thought to myself that if I needed someone to talk to I'd go to a friend, and if it was something religious, I'd probably head to my own church to talk to my own pastor. It was just pretty disturbing that these people thought that they needed to come to my door and just assume that I needed to talk to them. It's just not a great way of approaching the situation on their part. I began to wonder if, in however long that they decided to venture out in the sub-zero weather that day, how many people really responded to them in a positive way. Maybe they pray on the people who are either too nice or too dumb to actually let them in. I may be pretty nice and even a little dumb sometimes, but I knew better than to let them open up their can of worms.

So, why is it that people go out and do these things? I've been involved actively in my church for years and years, and I never recall once wandering around neighborhoods and knocking on doors unsolicitedly asking "hey, do you wanna chat?"