Interesting discussion last evening with a visitor that I had not seen nor heard from in over 30+ years.
Just by sheer as I was in the front gardens turning off the sprinkler system to the garden beds a vaguely familiar face arrives at my front gate and pathway.
A voice asks, "I'm trying to find my old High School friend who we all knew by his nickname " Mo," I was told that he lives somewhere in either this neighbourhood or the next, my nickname at school was " Stretch," perhaps you may be able to help me?"
Then it dawned on us both, kind of simultaneously I suppose who other person was.
After so chatting about the years long passed by and to cut a long story short, we got down to the main reason behind his quest, he wanted to talk and discuss the differences, etc, between Religion, in which he often serves as being a " Lay-Preacher" and, as he has often heard it called but he insisted most vehemently NOT by him, the " the Machinations of Satan, Atheism and it drive to bring all things Scientific and Natural to the world of humans."
to cut things short and not waste anyone's precious time, the discussion last for approx. 3 hours, numerous cups of either tea or coffee were consumed, the atmosphere became quite " electric" at times, I quote Verses, etc, from the bible to him WITHOUT needing to READ them from the dull and dreary book ( which kind of put him on the back foot many a time) and eventually he ASKED for a plastic garbage bag and some duct tape.
When I questioned, as I was NOT feeling all that safe and secure at the time upon hearing such a strange request, the response I got literally shocked me.
" Friend," he replied, " the garbage bag and the duct tape is NOT for you, I want it because you have confirmed for me that the doubts I have been having and carrying around for the last 35 + years were 100% correct, I and every person whom I have met, spoken to or with, etc, etc, in all my years as a Lay-Priest were absolutely correct, the entire business that they call religion is a complete and total fake,you have helped me to finally see the Truth and find find the light at the end of the all these years of delusion and of my deluding people, thank you, I ask that I may use the garbage bag and the tape so as I can finally rid myself of these trappings of lies and deceit, may I also ask that we place them in your garbage bin rather than in mine or a public instead."