As a Christian Catholic, I take my duty to evangelize very seriously. And by evangelize, I don’t mean proselytize.  Rather, I am talking about what the great St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel always, and if necessary, use words.”  I try to do this by leading a life of integrity.  I try to be kind, caring, forgiving, a good listener, and live by the golden rule.  But if someone asks me about my faith, I am willing to discuss it without judgement.  Of course, none of us are perfect, and we all fall short in some way.

However, there have been times in my life when my kindness and goodness have not been well received.  Instead, my good will was met with hostility, suspicion and resentment. Try as I might, I could not connect with the folks in these environments.  I have concluded that there are some people in this world who just don’t like “nice people.” If, after much self examination and consultation with trusted loved ones to determine if I might somehow be the problem, I conclude that I am not, then I dismiss that environment as “rocky ground.”  Then, I move on. Sometimes, it is better to not waste your time and energy where there isn’t good soil for growth.  If you are not welcomed, it is often better to “shake the dust off of your feet” and walk away.  Your departure might be the only possible message to send.