That Predestination Sh&t And Gothic Dance Clubs . . .

Moonlit Night

I slip into the water as steam rises obscuring my view of the night sky. I sink down past my shoulders. My toes burn in the heat after walking across the snow covered ground from the house to the hot tub. I lean my head back and breathe deeply of the icy, winter air happily anticipating a relaxing evening ahead. 

“You don’t really believe in that predestination sh*t, do you?” My friend demands, aghast at the thought that I just might, as she walks through the back door of her home to join me.

Accustomed to her challenging the differences in our beliefs, she leaves me to infer on her interpretation of predestination. I take a deep breath, offer up a hasty, silent prayer and shift my attention toward the intensity with which I am broached. 

“Let me start with a question before answering,” I begin. 

“You and your co-parenting partner communicate certain expectations to your children you believe lend toward the success of their future?” I continue by reiterating her list of expectations she campaigns:

•     Make the grade 

                                    - graduate high school. 

•     Obtain a college degree 
•     Establish a career
•     No long-term, intimate entanglements 

                                    - until aforesaid are achieved

•     The use of condoms is

                                    - non-negotiable 

•     If pregnancy interrupts said goals

                                    - termination is required 

•     At the appropriate time, 

                          bear no more than two children
                                    - due to over-population 

“Is this an accurate summary?” I probe.

“Yes,” she concurs.  

“Is it fair to say then that you’ve a predetermined plan you believe enables your children to thrive if they follow your mandates?” I inquire. 

“Yes,” she admits. 

“As free agents, would you agree that, your children posses the ability to choose to either adhere to your directives, reshape your plan to their own imaginings or, too, they can entirely reject your predetermined plan for their lives?” I ask.

“Yes,” she agrees.

“In like fashion, God lovingly provides humanity with a plan, a roadmap that predetermines eternal life for ALL,” I encourage. “And, we can either embrace His plan of love or we can turn away from His outstretched arms,” I conclude as we fall contemplative under a starry canopy.

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Basking under the California sun

Attempt at a gothic look. A little too blonde to pull it off, I think.

Last year, during a visit to California, I went dancing at a Gothic/Industrial Club in LA. A group of us went shopping for the occasion and we all dressed in dark attire and applied heavy makeup for our evening of social interaction and entertainment. 

I anticipated an education into this new world. So, I googled and learned that some Gothic Clubs issue rules of conduct: 

• Focus your experience on socializing, music and art
• Observe dress code: Gothic
• Indoctrination and fetishism are - prohibited 
• Maintain respectful interactions at all times

Research provides a sense of preparedness, but experience is the real teacher.  ​

For the most part, the scene was as I’d expected; loud music, dim lighting, costumes, mingling, dancing. The ground level of the Club played a poppy-industrial style of music. People smiled when we’d make eye contact and a few even chatted me up. The upper level of the Club played primal, undulating sounds and people moved to the driving rhythms. On the back wall, black and white clips of horror flicks played (of which I averted my gaze as I’m an Anne Of Green Gables kind of girl). A tall figure costumed as the Grim Reaper weaved in and out around the dancers on the floor. Intrigued, I studied the ‘Reaper’ but never caught a glimpse of their face. 

Asked if I was scared in this environment, I answered honestly, “No!” For truly, I felt - peace. When I looked around the room, I simply saw people wanting to connect, desiring to embrace the life God gifts. I saw people God predestined for eternal life, people God loves, people experiencing pain only He sees. So, as I danced with my peeps among the creatively clad, I found myself praying for people; I still pray for them almost a year later. 

God does not desire that ANY should perish, but that ALL embrace His love for THEM.

Search on google - John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:5