Amazing Grace

So look. You know I don't like to blog about work or certainly not about a client. But I have to tell you about this.

I experienced my first Pentecostal tent revival today.

The event was a community-based giveaway to the needy. But I guess, being good evangelists, they wanted to try to save all the needy people first. So there was a tent set up with chairs and a small platform at the front where some musicians were seated and there was a preacher with a microphone.

When I arrived, I thought maybe they were playing gospel music on some big speakers. But then I realized it was LIVE! in the tent. So I ventured in.

There were people scattered about in the chairs, but the largest crowd was at the front, surrounding the platform, where the music was pounding and the preacher was yelling excitedly into the microphone. He was saying exactly what you'd expect - if you're not saved, then you're going to hell and raise your hands if you know for sure that you would go to heaven if you died tomorrow and if you couldn't raise your hands then YOU ARE NOT SAVED AND YOU NEED TO COME DOWN HERE AND BE BLESSED BY THE LORD! AND BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!

And then he started speaking in tongues. I consider myself a pretty good writer, but I don't even know how to describe it. It sounded like when you type with your fingers on the wrong keys and don't know it smf dp s;; upit eptfd rmf i[ ;pplomh ;olr yjod/ [translation: and so all your words end up looking like this.]

One lady seemed to be having an out-of-body experience - which, I guess maybe she was - and three other ladies stood around her holding hands forming a circle to protect her and PRAISE JESUS! as she flayed around and got religion.

I'm pretty sure the preacher healed a few people, too.

It was awesome.

See, because I'm not judgmental about religion. If there's one thing I've learned about religion it's to each his own. I don't think there is a right or wrong faith, or way to worship. Maybe religion is the opiate of the masses, but maybe that just means that religion gives people what they need to face the world each day. (Heaven knows we need something to get us through.) So, whatever works for you, man. Whatever provides you with strength in times of trial and comfort in times of grief, you know?

So do your thing. Swoon or stomp or heal or cry or shout or shake your tambourine. Don't mind me - I may tap my foot a bit - but you'll for sure see a smile on my face. Because a person can't help but get caught up in the spirit.