Rhetorical question: Why must some people rain on parades?

[Pacifist Patriot]

I know there is no answer to this, but it's hitting me in the gut this week. My congregation is formally ordaining me at the end of March so the printed invitations went out last week. The response has been mostly affirmative and congratulatory. But two individuals have taken it upon themselves to piss on the proceedings. One is a lay person who is a total whack job and her efforts to sabotage the ordination were deflated instantly.

Another is a minister who does not approve of the unconventional, albeit perfectly legitimate, preparation track taken by me and the congregation. So I won't be a "real" UU minister and she "cannot support the ordination."

*sigh*

I don't recall the invitation requesting anyone's support for a binding and legitimate decision already made by a congregation within a denomination ostensibly governed by congregational polity. The irony is that I met this minister ten years ago when she was first starting out. I was the only one on our search committee who argued on her behalf. She has no clue of this of course. She also can't spell my name right even though she's seen it in print.

Oh well, I do understand the concerns for wanting to maintain quality in the ministry. I also sympathize with professionals who erroneously perceive others are taking short cuts and coming in "the easy way."

But the layperson whack job? MEAN PEOPLE SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now that you've waded through my rant. Tell me about a time someone rained on your parade and you didn't let it get to you. I want to see some success stories. Lay it on me!

[REP]

1. Remember This:

Nobody shoots at you on the way down. A dear friend told me this, and it's true. So just be concerned when no one wants to piss in your Wheaties!

[eyepaddle]

2. I can't think of any fight at the moment

but reply 1 is pretty solid.

But, yeah, some people just can't resist being a pain in the ass.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. jealousy mostly.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. This is a fear-based society. Don't be suprised at fear-based behaviour.

Congratulations on your course.

And post 1? People don't shoot you on the way down? People set the homeless on fire.

[REP]

5. Don't Think He Meant It That Literally

But who's lower - the homeless person, or the scum trying to harm him? If you wanted to get all philosophical, you could even see the homeless person on his way up by being so detached from material goods.

But the quote was in reference to people "gunning for you" in the figurative sense, not in the setting homeless people on fire sense.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Sorry, I get serious and people cringe.

That's just the way of it. It goes that way.

[Lyric]

7. Jealousy, envy, indignation, resentment

Some people just HATE to see someone else get something that either (1)they don't have, or (2)they have, but had to work harder/sacrifice more for. You seem the same mentality in conservatives every time welfare is mentioned. It's good that you can shrug it off and move on--no point in being upset when there's nothing you can do to change things. :hug: Congrats, by the way!

[dropkickpa]

8. I work with someone who is referred to as

"Funsucker". Not one situation will happen where she does not feel the need to piss on someone's wheaties. For instance, one girl we work with recently started dating someone and told us "I really like him! We have a lot in common and he treats me good!". Funsucker's reponse? "He'll probably turn out to be a sicko or axe-murderer of some sort." :wtf: Nothing good or positive can happen for someone without her shitting on it, up to and included stirring up pointless conflict.

Anymore, we just say to eat other "Funsucker" and go on our way, ignoring her debbie downer efforts, and we are happier. And, because we don't react to her funsuckerism as much, it seems to be letting up a bit.

Congratulations and I hope the ordination and festivities are fantastic for you! (you're gonna have a party to celebrate after, right?):party: :toast: :applause:

[LynzM]

9. I work with someone like that, too.

The whole damn world is out to get her, don't you know it? :eyes: I like "funsucker" as a nickname, though... might have to borrow that one! :hi:

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. Oh yes, definitely having a party.

Hmmm... "Funsucker" sounds exactly like a young woman had the displeasure of rooming with for a year in college. The glass wasn't just half empty it had a chip in the rim that would slice your lips open and make you bleed to death. I haven't thought of her in years. Probably a good thing.

[raccoon]

12. That's a great term to use for somebody like that--Funsucker! nt

[dropkickpa]

13. Yep! It perfectly describes what she does. n/t

[Gormy Cuss]

11. We laughed at this because it was so petty, but

my mother volunteered at a food pantry for many years. She was a generous soul and forgiving of most human frailties, but she did shoot off her mouth when a wet behind-the-ears young volunteer coordinator came in and tried to explain things to the senior citizens as if they were all addle-brained. Before her final illness she decided to take a break from volunteering because she wanted to wait out the arrogant young coordinator's one year stint. When she died after a brief illness, we received a condolence note from the center penned by the young coordinator and he felt the need to qualify the condolences by saying the staff and volunteers had many memories of her, "most of them good times but some difficult times too." Classy, no?

We enjoyed a hearty laugh because it validated everything our mother had said about him, and we agreed that he was fortunate that we weren't as petty as he was because the food pantry was our designated charity in lieu of flowers -- one call to the director and the little twit would have been in deep trouble.

[raccoon]

14. Gotta share this with yall.

I have a co-worker who does this. He's single, not in a relationship and he'd very much like to be (not with me; I'm old enough to be his parent). Anyway, every time I mention a man, he'll say, "He's married." or "He's engaged." I almost think he'd say that if I mentioned GWB, he'd say, "He's married." :silly:

One day I'd had it, and when he said of a man I'd mentioned (whom we hadn't had as a customer for several years, and he's almost young enough to be my son), "He's engaged," and I responded, "Misery loves company, doesn't it, Joe?"