So, Henry had his 4 month vaccines this morning, he didn't like them at all, but he calmed down and fell asleep soon after. Unfortunately when he woke up and for most of the day since he has had a small fever and has been pretty fussy. For those of you who know Henry the fussiness is quite a bit out of character. I called the doctor and was told that we were taking the correct steps and that his fever is a good sign that his immune system is working, but it's still difficult not being able to do more for him.
I did come up with a new little song for Henry earlier when I was attempting to soothe his cries. It goes a little something like this:
It's okay little guy
it's okay
We're going to make it
through today
You can cry and you can scream
You can pout and you can dream
It's okay little guy
it's okay
Well, onto other things...
Last night I had a conversation with a customer/friend at work. Paul, not his real name, is a really good guy. We were cordial for awhile, but we moved past a mere customer service representative/customer relationship one evening when he came in with a newly bald head. Turned out that Paul was going through chemo for a bout of cancer.
The reason we bonded was because I had a scare with the same form of cancer when I was a freshman in college. I got out of it with just a biopsy and some tense days of waiting for the results. Paul wasn't so lucky. Thankfully the chemo and other medicine/surgery did its job and Paul is now cancer free. In addition my dad died from cancer when I was 5, so me and Paul are now a little closer.
I prayed for Paul when he was sick and I rejoiced when I learned he was cancer free. As I said, our relationship has been pretty friendly for quite some time now and from time to time, when he comes in and I'm not busy, we talk.
Last night Paul came in and we started talking about the new Pope. He asked me what I thought and I said that I was unsure. I told him that Mary paid more attention but from what I heard and read it seems like he might have some unsavory connections. We talked a little about what kind of man can become Pope and we both agreed that politics plays a large role and that often the most pious individual is not chosen. Paul then he told me how at the age of 17 he had converted to Catholicism. He then told me how some people claim to prove God exists and others claim to prove the opposite. He said that he has never understood this and when he was younger he went to his Priest and asked him about it. The Priest's response was, 'You just have to have faith.'
The answer left Paul with an uneasy feeling, it just wasn't good enough. He asked, rhetorically, isn't the way we are made that we are constantly seeking truth? He finished his story by telling me that he was now a born-again atheist, and he said that he now lives with a lot less fear than when he believed.
He then said that he knew it wasn't that way for everyone, he said he was sure that I, a pastor, found comfort in my faith. I told him that I did, but that I have a more open view of who God is. That is where our conversation ended, because another customer came up and Paul decided to take his leave.
So, now I would like to share how my part of the conversation would have went if we had continued. I want to say this to Paul, but not just him. I am aware, thanks to my Facebook news feed, that I have several other friends who are atheists, and I wish they could read what I am about to write. To let them know that not all Christians think the same, and that God might not be who they think God is.
[2 quick asides before I continue. 1) I understand that people don't believe in God for a multitude of reasons. At base what I have to say is aimed at those who used to believe but have been driven away by someone, some group, or some idea within the established church. 2) I am currently reading Rob Bell's new book What We Talk About When We Talk About God, and while I am only part way through, I believe that this book may also be of help for people who feel God may not be who they have been told.]
Back to the rest of the conversation...
'Paul, I have a few responses.'
'First off, if anyone ever tells you they have proven that God doesn't exist they are not telling the truth. There is no definitive way to prove that God doesn't exist. [after all how in the world do you prove the absence of something that is supposedly beyond our current existence?] In addition, if anyone ever tells you that they have proven that God exists, again they are lying to you. There is no deifinitive way to prove God does exist. [afterall a miracle is only a miracle to a believer] In both cases they are only statements of FAITH. One says that their experience of God proves something, the other that their experience of science proves something.'
'You see the first lie that many people tell you is that God and Science are at odds, there is no truth to this. The people who say that the science in the Bible is not right are telling the truth, but the Bible is not meant to be a science book. And the people who tell you that the world is only 6000 years old because of Biblical chronology are wrong, because, say it with me, the Bible is not meant to be a science book, or even a history book, except for a few of the books within it.'
'Perhaps a few examples of how I think God and science may work together. First, I don't know if evolution is or is not true, but which ever the case it doesn not preclude God's involvement. God could well choose to work throught the process of evolution, in fact I had a professor in college who thought just that. Or, what about the Big Bang? According to scientists there is an element of the Big Bang still present in the static on the T.V. or radio. But why couldn't have God decided to create by Big Bang? Maybe God did, maybe God didn't but the truth of the matter is I don't know, and niether does anyone else.'
'Secondly, I completely agree that we are made to seek out greater amounts of truth, I would simply use the word designed instead. I believe that if God created us this way it is so we WOULD QUESTION EVERYTHING. Yes, we do have to take certain things on faith, but only those things that make sense to us to believe.'
'Third, I am sorry that the church, no matter its title, sold you a bill of goods that was attached to any amount of fear. Over and over again there are quotes in the Bible that say, "Fear Not." Yet there have been an untold number of people who have used fear as a motivating factor in order to get a faith commitment. Too many people have used the 'TURN OR BURN' argument. too many people have turned God into a boogeyman. The God I believe in is not a boogeyman. The God that Jesus shows me is a God of grace and forgiveness, or mercy and love, or acceptance and peace, of joy and kindness. God is not out to get you or punish you or scare you, God is out to love you.'
'I do not say this to get you to come to my church or to any church. It doesn't matter if you ever get baptized or give a monthly tithe. I don't care about the amount of buts in the pews. But I do believe that Jesus came so that we might have life, a life that is able to be lived to the full. I believe that your life would be better if you believed in Jesus and followed his teachings. In addition I believe that the world would be a better, more peaceful, more loving, more accepting, more graceful place if more people followed Jesus.'
'I respect your decision to not follow or believe, and who knows, if your path had been my path maybe I would feel as you do. I was lucky enough to have teachers, in college, seminary, and the church that had open minds. Teachers who told me that God was big enough to take my questions. Teachers who told me that God's love was big enough to take my doubts. I am a better pastor and believer because of them.'
Right now, I pray that my words would mean something to you, but more than that I pray that God would mean something to you, because I believe that you already mean a lot to God.
Peace and Love,
Pastor K
P.S. sometimes I wonder if God isn't looking down on all of us and singing a similar song to each of us that I sang to Henry.
It's okay little guy
it's okay
It's okay little girl
it's okay
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