For your amusement and interaction

Ok - let me set the tone for you... I don't hate needles per se (tattoos and piercings attest to that fact) but I do HATE having blood tests. In a moment of weakness four years ago I was manipulated into donating blood and vowed never to do it again as I literally felt the life getting sucked out of me.

But last weekend I was talking to my sister and she told me how she goes every quarter and I felt a little ashamed. Sure, I hate it but doing it helps God's creation and people. I felt convicted that I needed to get over myself and my discomfort and do something for someone else.
So, this afternoon I trudged through the rain (with another trusty Credo snr student - Glenn) to the mobile blood bank at Ultimo's TAFE. As I settled in to lie down I started chatting with the woman who was taking my blood. The conversation went a little like this:

(her) so what are you studying?
(me) actually I'm not studying but I work with a Christian group at UTS doing ministry full time
(her - groaning) oh don't tell me your one of those stupid fundamentalists who take the bible literally are you?
(me - shocked/angry/nervous that she was going to burst one of my precious little veins) uummmm, yeesss - yes I am...

The next 6.5 minutes of this vampire like process just brought about more confrontation and accusations from her. I'm now lumped in with the rest of those crazy people who have repressed women (huh? what? me???!!!), alienated the homosexual community and divorced women - blah blah blah...

The thing that ticks me off the most is that fact that it is my faith, my fundamentalist (shall we say evangelical?) faith that persuaded me to go so that I could do something small to help my Lords human beings.

So, my interactive poll for you is this. What do I do now?

a) send as many Credo students as possible in to see her telling her that they're there because they want to help serve God's people/creation
b) write to the Red Cross and tell them what some of their staff are doing and saying to people (esp in light of the fact that the Red Cross was started as a Christian mission movement to serve those in need and that most of their board members are involved in churches)
c) get over it

(PS - part of my motivation for this poll is to see who is reading this blog. I've been hearing from ppl lately that they are, and yet none of you say hello! :( .Pls do so now - even if you think i know - as you influence this poll!)

(PPS - go donate blood. Other people need your blood. my experience will not stop me going again in ten weeks time)

(PPPS - update - please esp say hi even if we've never met. Just got an email from Woody saying that someone in NY at Moff's church came up and asked him if he knew me because she's been reading my blog...that's kinda cool!)