Recently I attended a meeting about the formation of a faith-based tutoring/mentoring program for our community. A part of the discussion revolved around the public school system’s insistance that nothing “religious” be a part of our interaction with the kids. In response to this, a good friend of mine said something that both startled and bothered me. “I’m not interested in a bunch of educated pagans,” he said. Hmm…

I am.

I’m also interested in a bunch of well-fed pagans. And healthy, clean, clothed, safe pagans… free from injustice and oppression… which is another way of saying that I’m interested in pagans who are free from the bondage of pride, greed, envy, self-righteous anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth (I think that’s all seven). And I’m interested in pagans who are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… who love their neighbors as themselves. Hey, wait a minute…

– Pagan