I
left 
their church—
the Southern 
Baptist Convention—
when I was a mere teenage girl.
When some big ole boy scoffed at me.
You play guitar just like a man.
At church camp, no less. 
I strummed “Let
There Be 
Peace 
on 

Earth.”
He 
added,
“The Chinese 
will go straight to hell.”
Baffled over what possible 
link to China my guitar style 
suggested, I launched 
into the 
chorus 
line,
“And 

let 
it 
begin
with me!” He
backed away, cheeks red.
My guitar teacher shared this faith.
She’d raised her own son in that church 
of angry boys who’d
challenge skill
in a 
girl 
like 

me.
Who 
grow to
pound pulpits,
“us against other”
spit spraying in the name of God.
In the name of all that is Good,
I say unto them,
“Make your own
KoolAid.
Teach
your

own
kids
Bible
School, chapter
and verse.  Maybe then
you’ll learn something about leaders,
how they teach by example.
Will you then judge your
sisters and
mothers
as
less?”