Taken Aback.

Dear Random Bus-Rider,
1. It was incredibly rude of you to grab my arm, rather abrasively, and accuse me of being one of the millions of selfish and horrible people who surrender themselves to God. 
2. I hope you feel satisfied, that while you were holding onto my arm the entire bus-full of people watched you yell at a Christian who stood there quietly taking in your words about hate and discrimination. 

I realize the angry person on the bus won't get to read this, but I have to let off my steam. It really erk-ed me. I'm standing, holding onto the rail on a campus connector on my way to ASL, and this girl grabs my arm and demands to know what my tattoo says. My wrist was barely uncovered. It was a warm day, so I had my sweatshirt pushed up part way up my forearm.. but.. let's be real here, we were on a college campus, at least fifteen other people on the rather full connector had exposed tattoos. 

I don't know who ticked off this girl, nor do I know what they said to make her hate everyone in the world who identifies as a Christian.. but I didn't personally say a single word to her prior to her grabbing hold of me, and even when I finally did speak.. it definitely wasn't anything that would make her hate Christians more. She demanded I tell her what it meant, so I did. I also asked her to please let go. My hand was tingling she was gripping it so tightly. She didn't, she just went off on me. Screaming. On a bus. 

I'm not a fan of big scenes, and I had a test to get to. So when she finished yelling, I told her I was very sorry she felt that way, and that I wish she'd please let go. I told her I would cover my tattoo if it would make her feel better, but that I really hadn't meant to offend her. 

It was really interesting being the day after Ash Wednesday. The start of Lent. I kept thinking to what the priest said at mass. The readings talked about how we should pray in private, instead of out on the street corners.. how we should be giving alms not for the approval of others, but to strengthen our own personal relationships with Christ.. And basically what it came down to was how it almost seemed a little ridiculous that we were going to be marked with the ashes because it was as if we were going out into the world shouting loud and proud "HEY LOOK AT ME, I'M CATHOLIC." 

It seems as though it is directly contradicting what we read.. but it's not. We don't go out into the world wearing the ashes trying to call attention to how awesome we are.. we're calling attention to the beautiful mercy of God. It has nothing to do with us. 

I explained a similar reason for getting my tattoo in a post right after I got it.. 

It doesn't serve as a stamp of my religion to label me. It reminds me how beautiful and strong God's love is. How beautiful his mercy looks on me. I don't mean that in a conceited kind of way. I mean it in the sense that I am thirty times more confident when I remember He is watching over me. When I remember that I can make a mess of myself a thousand times over and I will always have His love, it takes away the fear I have of falling to pieces. 

So, I let her have her yell. I have a policy when it comes to angry people. I let them be mad, I let them scream. I get it. I get being so angry about something that you just need to yell at somebody. I also get that I didn't do anything to this person. I didn't roll up my sleeve and shove my arm in her face. I didn't start throwing out Bible verses at her. I wasn't doing anything. I was riding the bus. Clearly, she needed a yell. I'm glad I could help her, even if it was a little out of place. 

I'm just going to put it out there.. if you ever need to talk, or yell, just call me. Or ask me. Please don't just grab onto my wrist and squeeze until my fingers go numb. I'd be happy to sit down with you and have coffee and let you air out your grievances.. really.