Oh, spite.

How often are we in genuine, open dialogue with one another?

How much of my life do I spend listening with a conclusion already drawn or an answer already anticipated? I have yet to do the actual math, but I am sure the figure would be staggering. My ability to automatically assume what someone will think of what I have to say is uncanny.

Case in point, today the woman from University Laundry decided to engage me in a little dialogue. We began talking and it was pleasant because she was a pleasant person. She mentioned that she had lived in Fort Worth before while attending seminary. I immediately asked, "Oh? Did you go to Brite?!" looking to foster another DOC connection. However, my hopes were crushed when she told me that she attended Southwestern Seminary. Guess where my mind went next . . .

Later on in the conversation, she asked me about my future plans career-wise, major-wise, etc. I told her I was thinking seriously about ministry and going to seminary. She nodded and asked me what I wanted to do with that. This question from anyone with a presumably conservative background tends to boil my blood, because I automatically assume everyone should accept and affirm that I can preach from behind a pulpit despite my obvious inferiority as the weaker sex! . . . Oh, and that I am about to be judged as stepping outside my intended role as a woman of the Lord.

Instead this woman told me that was nice and asked me if I had had the opportunity to do anything ministry related yet. I told her no and probably wanted to cry a little because I knew who of the two of us was really the closeted, close-minded bigot. Luckily, I was chopping onions so my eyes were already fuzzy.