My 'lovely' morning at a church sponsored Health Fair:

[trof]

:sarcasm:
A local church sponsored a Health Fair Saturday, offering free health screenings to all who attended.
The denomination isn't important.
It's a 'mainstream' denomination that professes a belief in the deity and teachings of Jesus Christ.

In the huge auditorium adjoining the sanctuary around two dozen various health care givers had set up booths. Hospitals, physicians, etc.

I had planned to get my PSA and cholesterol checked. Maybe a urinalysis and bone density scan. Whatever else looked appropriate. I'm a 68 year old male.

The PSA screening went smoothly. You have to fill out and sign a standard form plus address an envelope that they'll use to send you your results.
I chatted with the nurse while she drew my blood. Thanked her and the nearby hospital she represented for being there.

I moved on to the cholesterol booth. The 'forms' lady asked if I'd fasted since midnight. Damn. I forgot to.
I had a small fat free yogurt/fresh fruit smoothie about 3 hours ago. I told her. She called a nurse over.
The nurse said that probably wouldn't matter. My cholesterol level might measure a bit higher than it normally is, although if it was very high it meant I had high cholesterol.
I explained that I had been taking 40mg. Lipitor for several years.
OK, she was fine with that. Just be sure and explain to my doctor what I'd had to eat that morning when I showed her the results.
Fine.

I proceeded to sit at a table and fill out the form. Half way through I was interrupted by a middle aged woman.
"You can't take this test if you've eaten anything."
She wasn't smiling.
"Excuse me?"
"These tests cost us money. They aren't free. They're free to YOU, but WE have to pay for them."
"Maybe you should explain that to the nurse. She tells me the test will be valid."
"NO! You can't take this test."

I went back to the 'forms' lady, next to the screening nurses area, and threw the form down.
"The Church Lady here says I can't do this screening. Apparently she's someone in authority? I don't know."
I was angry and a bit embarrassed at being singled out in front of a group of strangers.
I turned and walked out of the place, fuming.

I'm still pissed.
Now I wish I hadn't lost my temper and stormed out.
I wish I'd stood my ground and asked the lady for her name and what position she held with the church or the health fair.
Woulda, coulda, shoulda.
:-(

I had assumed that the church was merely providing the space and that the health care professionals were donating their time.
I don't know and don't really care what financial arrangements there are between the church and these folks.
That's beside the point.
Free screenings were advertised and offered and that's what I went for.
What Would Jesus Say to the nice Church Lady?
:grr:

[geckosfeet]

1. Nurse who makes an informed decision vs dogmatic church lady. Classic.

I know who I would trust more.

[trof]

2. Yeah, I feel teh stupid.

And THAT pisses me off, too.
:-(

[geckosfeet]

14. Don't feel bad. Not your fault. Angry nasty people are intimidating.

That's part of the MO. Embarrassing and humiliating people gives them a rise - a power rush.

Sick twisted souls.

[donco6]

3. We've had health screenings at our schools -

They didn't cost us a dime.

??

[Joe Bacon]

4. In God We Trust but All Others Pay Cash

Seems that church's god is Ayn Rand.

[trof]

9. Or Jean Shepherd? I Lean Towards Jean.

:-)
Shepherd wrote a series of humorous short stories about growing up in northwest Indiana and its steel towns, many of which were first told by him on his programs and then published in Playboy. The stories were later assembled into books titled In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories: and Other Disasters, The Ferrari in the Bedroom, and A Fistful of Fig Newtons.

[Ian David]

5. Jesus would have fasted. n/t

[Turbineguy]

6. That's just

naughty!

[trof]

7. Yeah, but HE was said to be perfect.

I'm not.
Not quite yet, anyway.
;-)

[Ian David]

11. Jesus made mistakes, too. For example, invite Judas over for The Passover Seder. n/t

[Tesha]

15. Jesus would have retroactively "miracled" the improper meal out of his body. (NT)

[Ian David]

16. And then used it to feed everybody. "This, is my vomit." n/t

[MiniMe]

8. The god warrier is getting between you and your health care!

:evilgrin:

[trof]

10. An anecdotal story about this same particular congregation:

I told my tale of woe to an old friend last night.
He and his wife are adherents of this particular denomination.
His story:
"When we moved to town a few years ago, Mary and I had always belonged to the Xxxxxxx Church. Looking to find a congregation to associate with, we attended Sunday morning worship services at that church.
No one greeted us, introduced themselves, nothing.
The place just seemed 'cold'.
The next Sunday we went to (same denomination in a nearby town).
There was all the difference in the world. Folks there were warm, friendly, caring, and we've been going there ever since."
:shrug:

[trof]

12. Second thoughts on who that 'lady' was...

I wish I hadn't lost my cool and behaved in such an immature manner.
Now I'm thinking the woman was probably a supervisor with the hospital, not some church official.
That makes more sense.
It probably does cost the hospital something to do the screenings, but I doubt that the church would have to pay anything.

I'm almost sure now that the 'WE' she referred to was the hospital.
I'm gonna nose around and see what I can find out.
Thanks for listening to my rant, anyway.
:-)

[tomm2thumbs]

13. run back and get your blood pressure checked again!!!

hehehe sorry, but that was the first thing I thought of - my mom always has hers jump through the roof because of these kinds of people and they wonder why folks have strokes!

what a sad, sad person to be so nasty about your wanting to check your health