It seems that this summer I have had the need to be saved so that I can go to heaven at many of the shows that we attend. OK. I design using Hebrew letters. So it is pretty easy to figure out that I am Jewish. The designs do NOT profess anything religious-- the designs DO profess love, peace, light, peaceful home, a woman of valor -- to name a few. It is universal - it is global. So why do people come up to me trying to save me so that I can go to heaven? And why do these folks seem to talk without the need to take a breathe? I am polite - very polite. These folks never approach Jay - just me. I listen politely. This weekend I did tell the woman that she was making me quite uncomfortable. She was -- and she took a lot of energy out of me ... her passion was real ... but she didn't stop pounding, pounding, pounding. And this was just after a woman thought that a piece of 14k gold marked $400 was $4.00 - and walked away in a huff when she found out that those two zeros meant a very different number than she had anticipated.
On the other hand, I guess that the 'gift' that my great-grandfather had - of listening -- and I've been told has been passed down to me -- has given me the opportunity to hear stories -- when someone - usually a woman -- looks at a piece, feels a connection, tells a story, sometimes breaks down in tears, and ultimately gets a hug if wanted ... has given me the opportunity to touch another person's life and perhaps bring about joy and/or healing.
Or -- a young person who 'gets' the messages -- and asks more and more questions - trying to find layers -- and sometimes adds more stories - making the message that much more meaningful and relevant. The 'wows,' 'cool,' 'neat,' 'fabulous,' 'clever' negate the cute, very nice, interesting comments that mean - it's time to move on.
The highs and lows of being a Judaic special educator who loves to doodle and has made those doodles come alive when placed into jewelry, etched glass, and a mobile.
Comments
great answer karole! gotta stop always being the 'good girl' -
Fortunately, this is one issue I have not experienced. Sorry you got the preachers in your booth.
If it happens to me, I will politely tell them I am working, and will not discuss religious views at this time. It is highly inappropriate for them to start their spiel in your booth/place of business. Another response is "Thankfully, we live in a country where differing views are tolerated" and walk away, to busy yourself with another customer, or tidying up. I NEVER discuss religion, or politics in my booth.... both are personal, individual, and subjective, and NOBODY else's business. In response to the Are you saved question, smile and say politely, "My Momma taught me it is bad manners to discuss religion or politics in public." That should put an end to it, if it doesn't start walking them to the door.
I am a Christian as Dawn Waters Baker is and it is amazing how the people you have encountered are totally oblivious to the fact that your are "working." When they start their rant just say I would love to share thoughts with you but I am working. And then, just move on to the next shopper. They will walk off...hopefully.
Wow - thanks for your answer -- you pretty much summed up my feelings ... and yes, i can say thanks but no thanks if someone knocks on my home door so i have to think that this is just like that -- someone's knocking on my door - and i can hold up my hand for the person to stop and say thanks but no thanks. ok - gotta remember that ...
I used to get the same thing years ago when I had more metaphysically oriented work in my booth. At the time I was doing work rooted in the Symbolist movement, with a lot of figurative work in yogic poses, drapes, gestural poses lifted from Classical cultures, and so on. I would have people coming into my booth constantly trying to save my soul. I would listen to them for a while as many would start out sounding like a potential customer. Sometimes I would shoo them out if I was impatient and tell them I was a heathen and not interested. It got to the point where I could tell what they were up to, and started to recognize a gleam to their eyes that said they were prosletyzers. There was a pattern to the dialog that became recognizable, and after discussing spiritual content in my work, they would segue into, "That's all well and good, but if you were to die today, would you go to Heaven or Hell?" This line was repeated multiple times, so it must have been part of the training these folks got. That was generally the point where I would be determined to get rid of them, so my stock answer was a good zinger that they were never ready for and they would retreat in confusion and not come back. I would tell them, "Neither. I know I'm not a perfect person, so eventually I'll come back to this wheel of existence and keep trying again and again until I learn the lessons I was placed here to learn. At that time, I'll join my creator and become one with the universe and that'll be the end." Their eyes would widen and they would sputter, and beat a hasty retreat. Arrogance from these people that somehow I needed to be saved deserves the disdain given back.
It's been my observation that these folks have little faith of their own, or at least a shaky foundation, and anything that deviates from their version of the norm bothers them and reminds them of their own frailties. By changing someone else, that reaffirms their own rightness and makes them more secure. There's no need to suffer these people politely. Start dusting the booth or something, but make it obvious that they are not going to get your full attention, and they will leave.
Since those days, my work has changed and it doesn't draw them in anymore. There's some work that I have that is satire with GI Joe and Barbie figures, and it probably keeps them away ;-)
As long as you have work that is spiritually based, it's going to draw some that see it as a challenge and they are going to try and "save" you. A ready answer is that you have a belief system that serves you well, and thank you for the thought but you're not interested in discussing it with them. Tell them to have a blessed day, and go back to what you were doing before. At least you didn't have someone yelling and screaming at you like I did in Ft. Wayne, Indiana one time.
I never did understand why preachers want to "share" the stuff in their brain with others who have no interest in sharing anything..................... but im thankful the big groups of Hari Krisna people, all chanting while maching down the street, have almost completely disappeared from arts and crafts festivals.
sorry for all the "preachers" you got in your booth! :) I am a Christian and find it's very hard for "my people" to really share their beliefs in a loving and kind way that doesn't come across nervously or with no time for air. I had to chuckle thinking how this probably went. Pray you have some great festivals coming up Deborah. Less talk and a little more action goes a long way in spirituality.