The woman who barked at me after choir rehearsal the other night

just sent me an e-mail, continuing her rant. I'm not sure what exactly I'm supposed to do to make her happy, short of offing myself. Which I'm not inclined to do.

and wish her some Christmas Cheer! :7

Kill her with kindness! :)

People who bark at clergy should be sent to rehab school.

People who bark at furniture salespeople should be sent to rehab. I'm not clear how this is an illness and what would be rehabilitated, but still, they should go there.

It's the "kick the dog" syndrome.

Not to make a pun on the barking thing.

Though I do realize you are making a bit of joke on using the word "bark", clergy abuse is a serious issue.

I always assumed they were given special (and in my view undeserved) deference and respect. Do they just attract crazy people (like I did when I had a private law practice)? Is it doctrinal disagreement? Are they seen as easy crime targets? Is it that, like store clerks, people think they can berate clergy without receiving an angry response? Is it the Catholic Church's complicity in child rape? That's a systematic problem in just one denomination, of course, but it is a big denomination and people do generalize.

Anyway, I had no idea this was a problem. Obviously, I don't think it is acceptable to harass anyone. I wish when I worked in retail that customers would have adopted that position. I used the word "bark" in that sense, as I assume you did. So not joke was intended except that I thought using a somewhat obscure profession as an alternate example was a little funny.

"Is it that, like store clerks, people think they can berate clergy without receiving an angry response?"

If I bark back, I get "you're supposed to be a pastor. You're supposed to love everyone." And then they quote Jesus at me.

but the kindness thing works for me. Would tend to keep one outta jail too. :P

:spray:

Of course, our jails are full up with governors these days!

self awareness that all decisions aren't about her? That mistakes happen and Christians should be able to both give and receive forgiveness?

As long as you consider it your job to make her happy, you will not succeed. If you redefine your job
you will not be so bothered by this person.

At my church, the pain-in-the-ass problem people are 3 women in the choir.