It's an omen.

On the way home from Biku's boxing Day family gathering (crab legs and cute t-shirts and marriage announcements and angry Asian babies, oh my!) I stopped off at the grocery store to buy some onions, and who did I see behind me in line but Elvis Priestly.

That's right, Dorian Baxter, Newmarket's own little freakshow. Om case you don't know, he's the ordained minister who wears a dog collar and enourmous sideburns, and sings reditions of Elvis Presley classics at his church services.

Now, I'm not a superstitious person, nor am I one who often thinks there is great personal significance in small events like this, but it was kind of creepy. You see, I'm going to the National Student Leadership Convention run by IVCF (aka Jesus Camp) tomorrow, and I'd just left Biku's house, where her family all assured me I'd go crazy within a few days. Then I see just the kind of fundamentalist, right-leaning (Baxter ran for the 'Family Conservative Alliance', or something like that, during the provincial election) crazy Christian I hope not to encounter over the next five days.

But maybe I'm making too much of this. Maybe Dorian Baxter is a wonderful man, once you get to know him, who provides a good way for those who like Rock Music to combine their faith with the world around them. Perhaps when I go to NSLC, I'll meet lots of young people just like me, who are struggling against George W's Christianity and trying to learn how to truly 'love thy neighbour' in this post-modern world.

To be fair though, I know I'll meet at least some nutbars. But I guess this conference, for me, is a testing ground. Is the ratio of nutbars too high? Can I stand to be around Christians for a significant amount of time? Do I have something unique and useful to say to the Christian community, or would I just be preaching to the converted? (or, what's worse, having my message fall on deaf ears)

I don't know. I don't know whether I'll come back on January 1 enlightened or annoyed, hopeful or despairing.

But I do know one thing -- if Elvis Priestly is a sign of things to come, then save me Jesus, save me now!