This event happened sometime before 1996, when Fairlawn Center closed down. Fairlawn was classified as a Mental Health facility ...often referred to as a Mental Institution. The majority of the patients, I would not have classified as mentally ill ...though my job classification didn't allow me to classify anyone. I just felt the kids had much potential, if someone would just give them a little bit of a chance.
This particular day, I was working with a group of adolescent patients. For the second week in a row, they were baking cookies. Every Friday they would do a special activity ...and since the baking was such a hit, they were doing it for a second week in a row.
The teacher wanted to improve upon just one thing ...to impress the kids to share. They had shared fine with each other, but the teacher was working on improved relations with adults. The previous week they had all eaten to their content ...and there were a dozen or so cookies leftover. They had been instructed to take those extra cookies back to their home unit to share with the adults ...but, none of the cookies had reached their destination.
The teacher did not give up on her students though. This second week they were given the same directions again, but this time the unit was called to give a heads-up with what was going on. I just happened to be one of those staff on the unit. And I just happened to love cookies.
Upon receiving a cookie, I was very open and cheerful with my 'thank you'. As the kids walked away smiling, I raised the cookie to my mouth, only to hear the whispered warning, "Don't eat that cookie!"
Startled, I froze ...with my mouth still open, and the cookie in my hand, in full view of my eyes. In disappointment, I whispered back, "Why not!"
My co-worker whispered, "You know, they belong to a cult. You can't eat something they made!"
Almost in defiance to her statement, I put extra emphasis into crunching an extra big bite. That cookie was hard like a rock, but it was sure good!
After finishing off the cookie in two bites, I began to feel guilty ....not because I ate the cookie, but because of the way I ate it. I apologized for to my co-worker for the way I seemed to spitefully smack the cookie between my lips, "I am sorry for the way I did that ...it's just that every ingredient of every product we buy and eat is touched by so many hands, by people we don't know, nor know anything about. But, we don't go around in fear of it, because our God is more powerful than any of that. And I believe God is pleased with our faith, and with the fact that we can have a positive impact upon the lives of others. The last time they ate all the cookies themselves ...but this time, they had extended an act of kindness. I don't think God would have us rebuke that ...I think God would want us to extend thanks for the kindness."
It may be more convenient for some to ignore my Christian viewpoints ...and to try to accuse me of being judgmental, but I attempt to voice my beliefs with caring compassion. Yes, I am passionate about what I believe. I believe in God, as I read about Him ...the way He is presented in the Bible. And Jesus, in His compassion, did not ignore the sin ...He supports us in our efforts of repentance.
He who is without sin, cast the first cookie. And remember, it doesn't look good on you, nor the person next to you ...to toss your cookies.
