“Too concerned” friends

[Tradd]

This could go under Spirituality, but it’s also more about relationships. This is a vent.

I’m not at church much in from after Easter through late October due to diving. Maybe 1-2 times a month. Close friend is retired and very involved. Has gotten very concerned I’m not in church much, Satan is using my diving “passion” to lead me astray, that sort of thing. Friend is an older woman who is very attached to her Eastern European ethnic heritage (born in US) and pays much attention to spiritual figures popular in her country of heritage. Very conservative and traditional.

I just thanked her for her concern and said I’m doing fine. but what I find interesting that there are others we’re close to who are gone from church often due to extensive travels, a sailboat hobby, etc, yet she had no response when I asked her if she was concerned with these others missing services a lot.

Just venting. People can get weird ideas in their heads.

[flowerseverywhere]

Religion does strange things to people. If there is a god I imagine your actions and living the kind of life most religions follow is the most important thing. Being kind, non judgmental, generous and living an honorable life are far more important than sitting in a pew, don’t you think?

[Teacher Terry]

That is plain weird to be concerned about your hobby but not others. If she brings it up again tell her to mind her own business:))

[JaneV2.0]

That is plain weird to be concerned about your hobby but not others. If she brings it up again tell her to mind her own business:))

Or to worry about her own soul. ("Satan is my dive buddy?" Really?:devil:)

[sweetana3]

Isn't necessary religion. Try living in a senior community with many people that have too much time on their hands. Or an HOA with too many seriously interested in their neighbor's lives. They are mostly bored and nosy.

[JaneV2.0]

Isn't necessary religion. Try living in a senior community with many people that have too much time on their hands. Or an HOA with too many seriously interested in their neighbor's lives. They are mostly bored and nosy.

That's what I'm afraid of...

[razz]

I found that once I was widowed or 'solo', people felt much more inclined to pass judgement on my life and my choices. I felt defensive and annoyed at first.

Tradd, you handled it with grace, see it as an interest in your well-being by someone who has too much time and too few distractions to keep busy Redirect their attention.

[Yppej]

("Satan is my dive buddy?" Really?:devil:)

Lol!

[Tradd]

Or to worry about her own soul. ("Satan is my dive buddy?" Really?:devil:)

Haha! That’s a good one! Needed the laugh.

[Tammy]

This is one reason I never go to church anymore.

[Tradd]

Interestingly, my diving-related friends have been more genuinely helpful than the church friends. When I had car battery issues lately and posted about it on FB (almost made me late for the dive boat!), a diving friend offered to help me get a new battery - on Labor Day and installed it in my car on Labor Day. I hadn't asked for battery help, the offer of help was just extended.

When I've posted requests for help with moving a piece of heavy furniture or for a loan of a correct sized tool to change my license plates, it was all diving friends who responded - none of the church friends did at all.

[catherine]

That's why my favorite church in New Jersey was a small congregations of misfits.. homeless, multiple ethnicities and races, just a "come as you are" vibe.

I kind of miss them, now that I think about it.

Tradd, your friend was totally off-base. As others said, you responded very appropriately. God wants people filled with "enthusiasm" ("The word originates from the Greek ἐνθουσιασμός from ἐν and θεός and οὐσία, meaning "possessed by [a] god's essence")

Your passion is diving--you are in church, close to God, under the water.

[Yppej]

Some denominations don't even hold services in the summer.

[JaneV2.0]

That's why my favorite church in New Jersey was a small congregations of misfits.. homeless, multiple ethnicities and races, just a "come as you are" vibe.

I kind of miss them, now that I think about it.

Tradd, your friend was totally off-base. As others said, you responded very appropriately. God wants people filled with "enthusiasm" ("The word originates from the Greek ἐνθουσιασμός from ἐν and θεός and οὐσία, meaning "possessed by [a] god's essence")

Your passion is diving--you are in church, close to God, under the water.

That's what crossed my mind--there's nothing more spiritual than immersing yourself in nature.

[Teacher Terry]

A minister once said he would rather someone be on their boat fishing and thinking about God than to be in church thinking about fishing.

[Tenngal]

I call them "the nametakers." We have one who constantly calls to attention those who are not there. But it is OK when she takes a weekend off.

[ToomuchStuff]

It is interesting that none of your church friends would help out. Ask her about the depth of the baptismal and who created the rest of the world according to her view?

[razz]

Just love her. Know yourself as being all that you can be and let it go.


It is interesting that none of your church friends would help out. Ask her about the depth of the baptismal and who created the rest of the world according to her view?

[Tradd]

It is interesting that none of your church friends would help out. Ask her about the depth of the baptismal and who created the rest of the world according to her view?

Now that I think about it, most of my diving friends are guys. Church friends mostly women, a few widowed or divorced. So since the diving friends are mostly guys, it makes sense they would be more forthcoming with things that required muscle or loan of tools.