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Meditation 247
Word of The Day: ostracize

by Pennie Lee Hernandez

Editor's Note: This was originally posted on Pennie Lee's blog, Agape, for 16 August, and has been republished here with permission.

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ostracize

DEFINITION (verb) to exclude from a group
EXAMPLE:  In Biblical times, those who suffered from the disease of leprosy were ostracized and forced to live alone.
SYNONYMS:  banish, blacklist, expel

Several decades ago I was an avid church goer.

I was in that movement a lot of you probably still remember called the "Born Again" Christians.

The small church I belonged to was what was referred to as a "Home Church", which meant we were so small we used the homes of our members.

When I joined them I was in mid-process of my divorce and living back home at my parents for a short time.

My Pastor kept telling me to hold out hope that my husband would come back, but I told him there was just no chance. My husband was an abuser and when he walked out on us leaving the children and me penniless, I knew it was finally over and I was glad.

Because my Pastor didn't like my attitude and wanted me back with my husband, he and the other members ostracized me and my children from our church.

That was the best thing that ever happened in my life, and to this day why I am Agnostic.