My Mormon Moment

[Raingirl]

Earlier this week I was leaving an appointment at Kaiser.  I was deep in thought as I headed towards the elevator, when the sound of a man whistling interrupted my thoughts.  First of all, it was unusual to hear someone whistling in such a setting.  My second realization was that the song sounded familiar but it took me a couple of seconds to recognize it (I was quite deep in thought).  It was "I Am A Child of God".

 

Now, perhaps in Utah this might not be a notable occurrence, but this is Portland.   Aside from Portland's other...peculiarities....unless I am at church/church activity or the temple or hanging out with friends from the ward, it is quite normal to not encounter another member of the church all week long.  Sadly, it is not at all unusual to encounter derogatory comments about all things Mormon on a regular basis at work.  So for me - as compared to my usual work week - this was something akin to a unicorn sighting (or hearing).

 

For some reason, hearing that song being whistled cheered me up immensely and was greatly appreciated at that particular moment.  I looked around, trying to figure out where the whistling was coming from, but wasn't able to spot the gentleman before the whistling stopped.

 

I thought it might be fun to ask if others who live outside the denser Mormon populations have had similar moments.  In Judaism (also not a large population here in "Keep Portland Weird" territory) we called these "member of the tribe" moments.   Encountering a fellow Jew - and recognizing each other as such - when you don't expect it.

 

[Kenngo1969]

I think you got a tender mercy.  I would write it down (including how it made you feel), hold onto it, and savor it.  (I'm sorry I don't have anything topically relevant to add to the thread: One could not swing a dead raccoon by the tail around here without hitting another Mormon, so, apologies on that score.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Kenngo1969

[Garden Girl]

Raingirl...

So you live in the Portland area... I'm on the coast in the Lincoln City area... for six years I served as an ordinance worker in the Portland temple.  My shift was every Friday from 12:00 - 5:00 PM... how I loved it... I served from 2006 - 2011...

 

GG

[filovirus]

My family and I are in Salem. Not quite as weird as Portland, but we do have our quarks. It wasn't me whistling, I can't carry a tune for the life of me. It's nice when simple things can chase the clouds away.

[Raingirl]

Raingirl...

So you live in the Portland area... I'm on the coast in the Lincoln City area... for six years I served as an ordinance worker in the Portland temple.  My shift was every Friday from 12:00 - 5:00 PM... how I loved it... I served from 2006 - 2011...

 

GG

 

I joined the church in 2011 and received my endowment in 2012, so I'm kind of bummed to know that our paths never crossed in the temple, even if it had been unknowingly.

 

I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't made it to the coast in over a year because life has been a little insane, but every time I see you mention your location on the board I think to myself that the next time I am in Lincoln City for a weekend,  I just know I am going to be looking around in Sacrament meeting thinking "Now which one is Garden Girl?". 

[Raingirl]

I think you got a tender mercy.  I would write it down (including how it made you feel), hold onto it, and savor it.  (I'm sorry I don't have anything topically relevant to add to the thread: One could not swing a dead raccoon by the tail around here without hitting another Mormon, so, apologies on that score.

 

I often wonder what it would be like to live where that would be the case.   I am looking for a new job and one of my home teachers was bugging me to apply for an opening at BYU that was right up my alley.   It would be nice to live and work where people speak my language. 

[Rain]

My family and I went to Seattle on vacation. It was Saturday night and we were eating dinner and wondering what Sunday appropriate things we could do after church in the area. As we were talking we noticed another family in the restaurant and immediately were pretty sure they were LDS, but there was nothing that could really tell us why. No BYU t-shirts. No Book of Mormon sticking out of a bag. He had shirt garment lines, but many men where t-shirts. We couldn't tell with her.

We finally just asked them and they were! We had a good conversation with them and they gave us good ideas. They were there at the right time.

Edited July 27, 2015 by Rain

[Garden Girl]

My family and I went to Seattle on vacation. It was Saturday night and we were eating dinner and wondering what Sunday appreciate things we could do after church in the area. As we were talking we noticed another family in the restaurant and immediately were pretty sure they were LDS, but there was nothing that could really tell us why. No BYU t-shirts. No Book of Mormon sticking out of a bag. He had shirt garment lines, but many men where t-shirts. We couldn't tell with her.

We finally just asked them and they were! We had a good conversation with them and they gave us good ideas. They were there at the right time.

 

Isn't it funny how you can tell just by the "looks" of someone that they are LDS... I had the same thing happen to me in Burger King one day when I went in for a quick lunch...

If you ever get to Lincoln City and attend Sac Mtg, just pop in to the library and I will be there... On the second Tues of every month, the single sisters (or any sister) from our ward car pool to the temple... Maybe some time we could meet up for a session...

 

Edit to Add... Sorry Rain... I mixed you up with Raingirl... 

 

GG

Edited July 27, 2015 by Garden Girl

[3DOP]

Earlier this week I was leaving an appointment at Kaiser.  I was deep in thought as I headed towards the elevator, when the sound of a man whistling interrupted my thoughts.  First of all, it was unusual to hear someone whistling in such a setting.  My second realization was that the song sounded familiar but it took me a couple of seconds to recognize it (I was quite deep in thought).  It was "I Am A Child of God".

 

Now, perhaps in Utah this might not be a notable occurrence, but this is Portland.   Aside from Portland's other...peculiarities....unless I am at church/church activity or the temple or hanging out with friends from the ward, it is quite normal to not encounter another member of the church all week long.  Sadly, it is not at all unusual to encounter derogatory comments about all things Mormon on a regular basis at work.  So for me - as compared to my usual work week - this was something akin to a unicorn sighting (or hearing).

 

For some reason, hearing that song being whistled cheered me up immensely and was greatly appreciated at that particular moment.  I looked around, trying to figure out where the whistling was coming from, but wasn't able to spot the gentleman before the whistling stopped.

 

I thought it might be fun to ask if others who live outside the denser Mormon populations have had similar moments.  In Judaism (also not a large population here in "Keep Portland Weird" territory) we called these "member of the tribe" moments.   Encountering a fellow Jew - and recognizing each other as such - when you don't expect it.

 Kaiser Sunnyside, or that new one out in Hillsboro? Clackamas and Washington counties are a little better it seems to me.

 

I appreciate the sentiment. I've worked in that town, the weird one, for many years and I won't miss the aggressive loonies on their bicycles, or the preachy political slogans on the cars when I retire.

 

Although I am not LDS, oh how I would love to live around "people who speak your language", as opposed to the constant, ranting, political pornography of Multnomah County.

[Raingirl]

 Kaiser Sunnyside, or that new one out in Hillsboro? Clackamas and Washington counties are a little better it seems to me.

 

I appreciate the sentiment. I've worked in that town, the weird one, for many years and I won't miss the aggressive loonies on their bicycles, or the preachy political slogans on the cars when I retire.

 

Although I am not LDS, oh how I would love to live around "people who speak your language", as opposed to the constant, ranting, political pornography of Multnomah County.

 

Sunnyside. I haven't had the chance to experience the Hillsboro location as I moved from the west side to the east side before it opened.

 

I grew up in the Midwest and moved here (not my choice) in my late 20s.  Talk about  culture shock for a naïve Midwesterner!

 

 

I also do not fit in at my current place of employment.  Which was another culture shock, especially after having worked ten years at a Catholic university. Anyone who is even remotely "religious" or conservative or who doesn't drop the F-bomb in every sentence is looked upon with great disdain and suspicion.  Not to mention, mocked openly.  And don't even get me started on the total lack of ethics.

 

I am on the hunt for a new position and it can't happen fast enough.  I often wonder what it would be like to live in Utah and work for employer who is LDS.

 

I have to say, though, that working in downtown has its entertaining moments.   Like watching from the office windows as the armored vehicles and riot squads moved in when the local "Occupy" movement attempted to take over the Bank of America building.

 

Or seeing the guy wearing nothing but a pink tutu and army boots on my way to the office.

[Avatar4321]

That is an awesome tender mercy.

Went to the lake with my family today and ran into a guy from the ward there. I was glad he was there because my daughter lost her flip flops and he managed to find them and turn them in at the lost and found area.

Tender mercies are awesome. Been thinking we should all do our best to bring others their own Mormon moment and tender mercies

Thank you for sharing this.

[Guest]

Earlier this week I was leaving an appointment at Kaiser. I was deep in thought as I headed towards the elevator, when the sound of a man whistling interrupted my thoughts. First of all, it was unusual to hear someone whistling in such a setting. My second realization was that the song sounded familiar but it took me a couple of seconds to recognize it (I was quite deep in thought). It was "I Am A Child of God".

Now, perhaps in Utah this might not be a notable occurrence, but this is Portland. Aside from Portland's other...peculiarities....unless I am at church/church activity or the temple or hanging out with friends from the ward, it is quite normal to not encounter another member of the church all week long. Sadly, it is not at all unusual to encounter derogatory comments about all things Mormon on a regular basis at work. So for me - as compared to my usual work week - this was something akin to a unicorn sighting (or hearing).

For some reason, hearing that song being whistled cheered me up immensely and was greatly appreciated at that particular moment. I looked around, trying to figure out where the whistling was coming from, but wasn't able to spot the gentleman before the whistling stopped.

I thought it might be fun to ask if others who live outside the denser Mormon populations have had similar moments. In Judaism (also not a large population here in "Keep Portland Weird" territory) we called these "member of the tribe" moments. Encountering a fellow Jew - and recognizing each other as such - when you don't expect it.

I always love being pleasantly surprised...it does not happen often when out in publick...it always happens on Sunday. It never happens at a doctors office. This Thurday I have surgery scheduled...I expect I will hear my doctor whistle "You are a stepchild of God", maybe...a red headed one at that. Edited July 28, 2015 by Pa Pa