Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Fun at the Library

This summer we're participating in a cool program at the library where we go once a week for a catered supper and book discussion. Last night was our second time going, and it was wonderful.

We read and discussed three children's books, including Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. When the discussion leader asked us some ways we can all work through bad days, the kids answered with responses like "think of happy thoughts", "go back to sleep", and "do something really fun." But a truly amazing thing happened when one of the dads raised his hand and said, "I know when I have a bad day, I fall down on my knees and remind myself that no bad day can be as bad as Jesus's final day."

Nearly everyone in the room cheered. No kidding. Kelly and I looked at each other in amazement. He whispered to me, "Shouldn't these people be at vacation bible school instead of at the library?"

6 comments:

  1. His day is not as bad as a fake guy's not-real last day... hmmm.... As Ben would says, "I bet he votes."

    That makes me sadder than all the other things.

    heh!

    Sob!

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  2. This just confirms what you already know: you're a minority. Wonder if any other deities had bad days you could mention, as in:

    [That Guy]"...no bad day was a bad as Jesus's last day."

    [You] "How about when Prometheus gave humans fire and Zeus chained him to a rock forever? Every day an eagle feeds on his liver, then it grows back for the next day. No ascending to heaven for that poor guy."
    (This one comes to mind because they did Greek myths on the "Martha Speaks" cartoon yesterday.)

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    1. LOL. We watched that episode yesterday too. Great show, and you're right, Prometheus's fate was way worse than Jesus's!

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  3. Nothing beats free food and book discussions going on at the same time.
    And a Hindu might have replied in that conversation; "When I have a bad day, I prostrate before my altar and repeat my mantram."
    Or a Buddhist might have said; "When I have had a bad day, I spend an extra 30 minutes in mindfulness meditation, reminding myself that it is the current moment that matters, not the past or the future."
    As much as an atheist might say; "I go home to my family, where I know someone I love is there waiting to help make things better."
    I know you are the minority, but that doesn't make that father's answer wrong.

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    1. You are correct that his response was entirely appropriate for the open-ended question that was asked. In fact, the discussion leader had made a point to stress that there were "no wrong answers." I was just floored by the huge ovation he received. Moments like that make me realize how isolated from this community I am.

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