Heathen in Disguise

The first time I realized I wasn't like the other Christians was my freshman year at Penn, though I'd carried my suspicions long before then.

I'd gone to a Christian club meeting called Cru to try and be the person I wasn't yet ready to realize I was not.

The topic of discussion that evening was the merits of mission work.

My stomach tied itself in knots and eventually my hand sprang into the air.

"Spirituality is so personal; why would you ever want to strip someone of theirs?"

Some people looked to the ground. As far as I can remember, the conversation continued as if I hadn't spoken at all.

Clearly, I'd missed the mark on mission work--

or had I nailed it in its heart?

Either way, that was the first and last time I ventured into Penn's chapter of Cru.

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Heathen in Disguise is from my zine "Notes from the Road," which I published in 2024. I plan to print a 2nd edition soon.

XO,

Spirit