Strange conversations

A friend called me a few hours ago. He had been traveling for the last few weeks, one country after another. He asked me about my latest. So I told him.

He was shocked at how involved I am with the bible study groups.

“What??? Don’t tell me it is a joke ok.”

“No it is not a joke.”

“Walau? Cannot drink lar?”

“Hallo. I dun drink a lot what. And I don’t party like crazy. What are you talking about?”

“Yes, you drink, remember your party?”

“Hallo that was three years ago. You are still using that incident as an example. One incident and I am marked for life.”

He laughed.

“Since when you see me partying? I don’t know how you get that image of me as a party girl.”

“Got, you vomited into someone’s mouth.”

“What????!!!!!! You sure you got the right person? I didn’t do that. Are you crazy?”

I sighed. I breathed heavily. I felt I was on trial. That was not the first time I had to correct people’s image of me. How did they get that image in the first place? The music I listen to? The way I dressed? Sigh…more to examine.

“Oii, you sure or not. Date people from your church? Your church Presbyterian church, very boring one.”

“……” I couldn’t handle the conversation.

“Those guys can’t satisfy you one lar.”

“Hey, what are you talking about?!!!” I sounded irritated.

I didn’t know how to go on, so I quickly change the subject, “So how was your trip?” The conversation then veered to a more comfortable zone.

When he invited me to a thanksgiving dinner, I cringed. Oh no, I wonder whether I could handle more strange conversations.

“Oi, come lar, meet some cute Kellog guys.”

“I don’t want to meet Kellog guys.” I frowned. "I met enough at school already."

“Maybe they are presbysterian.” He laughed.

“Walau you.” He was making fun at me. I know. I sighed.

How do you handle conversations like that and still keep your cool.

Well, he is a catholic. How about conversations with a Christian? I had one yesterday.

“As long as you know there is a God, a supreme being who created the world, it is ok. No need to listen to all these people. They interpret the bible different.” He said and he is a 50-year-old christian attending New Creation.

“Ok,” I said.

“So there are people who think that Muslims are not going to heaven. How can they think that way? Christians you know these people.”

Errr……this is really bad. Another strange conversation.

“You think the muslims will have salvation of eternal life?” I asked.

“Yes, They are all descendants of Haggai. Sarah and Haggai all one big family years ago. These Muslims believe that there is a supreme being who has created the world. As long as you belong there is a God, you are saved.”

I frowned. Walay, this is very bad. This is a person who has been a Christian almost all his life, serving in his church and two of his uncles are pastors. How did this happen?

“Hoorrr…..” I said and grimaced. I wanted to get out of the room. I couldn’t handle the conversation. But I knew I couldn’t leave it like that.

“Errr….The devil also believe that there is a God or else who is the devil waging a war against? So what is the different between the devil’s belief, the muslims’ belief and our belief?” I asked, hoping that would leave him with some room for thoughts.

He went silent.

Wow, good. So we can end the conversation. I really don’t want it to turn ugly.

He looked thoughtful.

Can I go now?

“So what is your definition of belief?”

In this postmodern age, we ask for definitions a lot.

I offered mine. He looked thoughtful for a while.

I sighed. I probably will have more conversations with him again and more strange conversations at that thanksgiving dinner, which I had agreed to go. As much as I hate it, I can’t really avoid conversations like that. I know. I have to live among the people, be in the world and not of the world.