September 10, 2007
View from a Baptismal Pool
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[Name Withheld Upon Request], Mobile, Alabama, April 24, 2007
Hi, I have a quick story I thought I might pass along to you. It happened
just yesterday; and if you wouldn't mind, I'd rather exclude my name (so as
to not be questioned so far as intent).
I felt really awful yesterday, some days are that way -- my opinions
wouldn't be very popular so far as bureaucracy -- I'd rather not expand on
that. Well, anyway, I was working as a custodian cleaning a church.
First of all, I just wanted to say that I really do despise religion -- I
will just leave it at that. I have my own reasons and my own personal biases
and opinions... they are all good enough reasons for me. So far, no one has
been able to counter my better opinion.
So here is what happened -- I was cleaning out what is called a Baptistery
(a tub in which people are submerged/baptized). I stopped briefly for a
moment to take a breather. I'd been scrubbing relentlessly at these rust
stains. When I looked out of the thick plate (not glass) window in front of
me, I looked up top to where the sound guys control the music output on
Sundays. I saw something, and at first I thought it was because I was
already in such a murky mood/over-tired. I had seen this before, I really
didn't care at all -- I really didn't -- other than staring it down for just
a bit.
Well anyway, it looked like the same thing I'd seen before (some type of
hovering/dark shadow-type of thing with a definite outline). Instead, I just
opted to convince myself it was something, like a sheet, or something draped
over a coat rod or something like that.
When I'd finished cleaning out the baptism pool, and walking around the back
stair-case, I was now closer to where I could see even better, but now
nothing was there. I know for certain that something was there; whether or
not it was just something draped over something else, or maybe someone had
come in and taken off with whatever it was. But there is always that
possibility, and it seemed really kind of ironic to me - to be cleaning out
a baptism pool -- a place where people are saved - perhaps this was
symbolic? As a side-note to that, I have been both baptized and saved.
It could have been anything, but I finally found a job I was okay with, I
didn't go in today. One reason is due in part to chronic fatigue. Maybe
there is something going on, on a spiritual level. In the Bible it compares
Satan to a lion devouring the earth. As said, I'm no longer religious (if
ever I was), however I kind of wonder if whether or not there is a darker
aspect to life, something un-seen which spiritually has its grip on some
people? I thought perhaps "the mark of Cain" might be some type of family
curse. I think mental illness is probably just that; however I do not feel
mentally ill, nor do I have conversations with myself, so nothing schizoid.
So I dunno know, what was it? What did I see? - I don't know!
