Well, SRS, I don't think I did preach, and I don't expect to convert you or anyone else-- it's not my business. You seem to want to control me-- your posts in this thread instruct me on how I should behave, and I don't think I have taken that tone myself.

Examples:

... You have to get over that. The rest of your stuff to do with music I don't have a problem with, but I don't care for the parental tone. Keep the tsk tsking to yourself, and if you don't get your way, I suggest that you turn the other cheek.

I would like to see you to turn off the Pollyanna nonsense.

My image of your likely surprise came to me when I tried, for a moment, to see myself as you decribe me. I compared your description of me against my experience of reality with quite a large number of people who don't share your view at all.

You describe: Mother Susan, the Reverend's Wife, trying to keep the sheep in line and advising us to be more charitable or that we should apologize for something or other. I experience a community of considerable size and seasoned judgment affirming my open, direct, and relaxed style as a model of welcoming people they would consider difficult to welcome.

You describe me tsk tsking, and I experience phone calls and emails each week where people from many aspects of life, not just our church, seek encouragement and receive the experience of having someone believe in them and in their ability to act in powerful ways based on their own best thinking.

You characterize me into something to chastise. I do try to understand where that comes from, because I try to understand things that make no sense to me in case I might learn something in the process. So far, I'm not learning anything much from you. How is it working for you?

What I am telling you is that for whatever reason, you're off when it comes to me, and that I object to your attacks.

Now I'm going to try to reconcile the image of a tsk tsking Polyanna. It's a stretch-- I'll have to see the movie again and see if I can catch her being a Multiple Personality. :~)

~Susan