God Hates?

The first time I saw the Chick-fil-A cows, I was in Houston on I-10 headed west on my way to the 45 South exit. I had just driven under 59, and as I rounded the curve with UH-Downtown to my left, to my right I saw a billboard with two cows, one on the other’s shoulders (Do cows have shoulders?), painting the sign, EAT MOR CHIKIN! Apparently, cows can’t spell. Thanks for joining the dyslexic giraffe in the education of America’s children. Did I mention that I was in morning rush-hour traffic?

That billboard is what prompted my first visit to Chick-fil-A. It wasn’t that I didn’t know the chain existed or anything; they’re in the mall, but I had never ventured into one of the stores to sample the fare. It took two life-like cow statues painting graffiti on a billboard and a near miss on the freeway to hook me. Why do they call it a near miss, by the way? If it’s a near miss, doesn’t that mean it actually happened? Maybe bare-miss would be a better term. Think about it. But I digress.

I should have known something was up the first time I stopped by the chain on a Sunday. I can understand a mom & pop shop needing a day of rest or taking a holy day, but who closes up a restaurant (a major business, anyway) on a weekend when most people are off from work and can patronize the establishment?

Give me a minute. That last line brought up so many thoughts (and giggles) that I need to walk away for a bit to pull myself together.

Okay, back to it. A friend shared with me one of the newest campaigns about (not from) Chick-fil-A:

As a general rule, I avoid discussions on religion. I can’t think of any other subject, save maybe politics that can create such fury in people as questioning discrepancies that I might find interesting in their chosen religions. So, I never bring up the subject. But (as a “shout out” to Common) I guess it’s time to get the “God question” in.

God hates?

Every time I see a sign that begins with God Hates, I wonder, how can/why would the person carrying/posting the sign believe in a god that hates anything? That’s not a very godly attitude. Seriously, who would want to be a part of something like that? What happened to redemption, forgiveness, love? I am not saying that anyone needs to be forgiven anything here. I’m saying, from my interpretation of the religious teachings I have encountered, there is supposed to be a godly forgiveness. What happened to being made in god’s image? This “hating god” seems to be made in man’s image. Yeah. I know. I’m going to hell. What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself?

Olp! I think I found the answer to my question. How can you love someone else if you don’t love yourself? How can you love someone when you fear that person?

Okay, so I answered questions with more questions. But the way I see it, we project as much as we reflect. What we see in someone else is what we see or wish to see in ourselves. What we fear in someone else is what we fear in ourselves. What we hate projects/reflects from this fear. Why would anyone want to live in fear? Fear is tiring – it wears you out. It is The Nothing that swallows, that consumes your world until nothing but fear is all that is left.

So, how did I get from the Chick-fil-A anti-promotion to The Nothing? Let’s refer back to my earlier statement: I avoid discussions of religion because I prefer to not piss people off. Why? Because I hate to be pissed off for fear of just how far that anger might take me.

Yes, I know. What is my stance on the issue at hand? 1) I enjoy the original chicken sandwich and the chicken minis – especially when I am on the road, going from home to Dallas, so giving them up is difficult; 2) Although I would love to teach the COO, Mr. Cathy, a lesson by no longer patronizing Chick-fil-A, in doing so, I would be punishing the individual Operators and their employees. And, really, what lesson would Cathy learn? To fear to speak his mind?

So, I will no longer make my usual stop on the way out of Harris County to pick up a breakfast that lasts me most of the way to Dallas. Maybe I’ll lose a little weight in the process. No, I won’t call the kids to ask them what they’d like me to pick up on my way into town. However, I will still, on rare occasions, have a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Why, because I will continue to support the individual Operators and their employees who have always been, in my experience, extremely courteous. And Cathy probably “won’t learn nothing,” at least, not from me individually. But if enough people reevaluate their patronage of the chain, perhaps his Operators will take a stand.

So, how many did I piss off with this one? Perhaps the better question: how many didn't I piss off?

Quote for the day: I have seen great intolerance shown in support of tolerance. Samuel Taylor Coleridge