It's been months since Julia discarded Naomi as a friend. Julia teaches the bible to kids at a large evangelical church in Kaneohe. In fact, Julia is the one who asked Naomi to team teach with her awhile back. Since the rift, Naomi and Julia alternate teaching every other Friday. Naomi will teach these kids till May (I hope she just quits).
After Naomi finishes her term there, she'll stop going to that church altogether. The woman in charge of the kids classes hasn't bothered to look into the problem. I wonder if she's more concerned that her "program" is staffed with teachers than she is about the well-being of each teacher. If I were in her position, I'd be somewhat concerned that two of my teachers are not getting along. I'd do everything I can to make it right - or tell them both to sit out. It's just so counter to the whole idea of teamwork and caring.
Naomi and Julia used to go to the same bible study group together. Since the rift, Naomi decided to stop going to the bible study, since it was too difficult emotionally to face Julia. Everyone in the bible study knows about this rift, yet no one in the group has reached out to my sister. Yet they continue to take Julia in. I hear they go out together all the time. I wonder if group members act as if nothing happened. Everyone in the group must've gotten sucked in by Julia's charm. How can anyone ignore the wrong Julia has done while leaving Naomi to fend for herself?
A friend of Julia once told Naomi that "Julia is so superficial. She just sucks the life out of you." I guess Naomi found out the hard way. I guess Julia's absence from Naomi's life is a blessing in disguise.
If this was all happening within a office environment, I would say that it is all quite common. But in a church? It's surprising that the faith would not inspire someone to reach out and form some kind of interaction and dialog.
Posted by: kane on January 16, 2003 05:43 PMI'm not surprised, having grown up as a pastor's daughter. People's weaknesses will spill out in any environment. I think the natural reaction is inaction - so I almost can't fault people for not paying attention to Naomi's situation. I realize instead that it is how much more difficult to do the right thing. Reaching out costs something.
In the last voicemail Naomi left with Julia, Naomi offered to find a way to work through what was happening. Imagine that - the victim saying, "Let's work it out." Of course, Julia never returned the call.
Posted by: ruth on January 18, 2003 07:28 PM