Some intolerant members of our church really pissed off the pastor

[H2O Man]

29. I humored them.

The last time I attended mass there, it was because my 9-year old daughter asked me to. It was near Easter. During the sermon, my daughter kept raising her hand. The pastor tried to ignore her, but eventually called on her. My daughter stood up and said, "Um, I don't think that we all really understand what Jesus was saying. If we did, there wouldn't be kids in my school that go to bed hungry, or who have to wear tattered clothes to school." (We are from a small hamlet.)

After the service ended, to gentlemen starting arguing. Loudly enough that children began crying. Since no one else seemed to want to get involved, I walked over. The pair attempted to ignore me, but unlike my daughter, I didn't just raise my hand. Stepping between them, in a loud voice, I asked, "What do you have when a wise man argues with a fool?" Both of them gave me ugly looks, but had no answer, so I said, "Two fools," and walked away.

When I walked outside, an elderly gentleman quietly said, "You know you have a special daughter there. Lots of responsibility raising such a child."

Being a local historian, I knew that since being built in 1804, the congregation of that little church had split about every twenty years. Hence the township was known for its many churches. This one folded a few years after my experiences there. Today, the historical society owns it, and it is a nice museum and community center.