Haines, My Way: Visitors who have guts
A couple of weeks ago, I had two unique visitors come to my home.
It was during the day, and I was home sick from work. As I was lying half-dead on the couch, watching "Everyone Loves Raymond," there was a knock on the door. After weighing the pros and cons of answering the door with a sinus infection, I decided to go ahead and see who it was. When I opened the door, there stood two nicely dressed young men.
To my surprise, my two visitors were of the Mormon faith, trying to spread the word about their religion. They were courteous, cordial and overall, very polite. However, I had to decline an extended conversation with them due to my illness and personal beliefs.
After they left, I wondered how many people they had visited. More importantly, I wondered how many people had been curt with them. Personally, I don't believe the door-to-door method to witnessing is the best way to go, and I've heard stories of how they're sometimes treated.
I've heard of people cursing door-to-door testifiers, throwing things at them, even pulling guns on them. I'm sorry to say, I know someone who once sprayed their testifying visitors with a garden hose. I can see where a resident might think he/she is being trespassed on, or think his/her privacy is being infringed upon, but gee whiz. There is a difference in not accepting visitors and being bad-mannered.
Those individuals who choose to share their faith, or are called to share their faith, in the door-to-door fashion should not be treated cruelly. They are people who feel passionately about their faith, and just want to share it with everyone. The two individuals who visited me were not pressuring, persistent or annoying. So they should not be stereotyped as anything different.
To tell you the truth, I think it takes guts to do what they do.
Anyone who has made door-to-door visits, from Girl Scouts selling cookies to politicians seeking votes, to sales people or those who wish to witness, can attest to this. You never know what you're going to see, hear or witness when you visit a stranger's home. It can be scary, funny or just plain pleasant.
For those who have no patience with door-to-door testifiers, please keep in mind that just because you believe something different is no reason to be rude. I may not be of the Mormon faith, but my two visitors were nice anyway. It's just another example of showing your fellow man common courtesy; something we all lack sometimes.
Carthage Press