CHURCH AND RILEY
I was out on a morning run. Running always seemed to steady my emotions and clear my head. I'd engaged in the activity after watching the movie, Forrest Gump. Forrest said he ran to put the past behind him, which sounded like a good idea. And that's all I had to say about that.
On Sunday mornings in Ghent, the normal buzz of cars and pedestrians' disappeared as people slept in or lingered in front of the TV sets. I passed a few regulars out walking their dogs or taking a late morning run. The few cars you would see on the streets, were usually the people headed to church.
As I ran and reflected on things, my tension eased. I wondered what my neighbor, Riley, was doing at church. His car wasn't in the parking lot, so I assumed that's where he went. I could picture him in a massive cathedral, organ playing, and people trying to appear to be Holy. Only, Riley didn't seem like that. But still, that didn't mean Christianity was for me. Life hadn't pointed me toward a loving God. If there was a God, he was a harsh dictator who enjoyed watching His children suffer, more akin to Adolf Hitler than Mother Teresa. I'd stick with my faith in science. It made more sense.
My apartment building came into view. I'd ran two miles, now, I needed a coffee. I jogged across the street and ordered a large iced mocha. As I waited, several families came inside wearing dresses and suits. The church across the street must have just gotten out. The members left a bad taste in my mouth on more than one occasion.
I'd been in several arguments with attendees, who insisted on parking in front of the apartment building, effectively leaving me without a place to park, though signs clearly stated parking was for residents only. (What a bad impression) Plus, Sharon, the Coffeehouse owner, 'dreaded' Sundays, she'd told me once. Christians were the worst tippers, often leaving tracts in place of money. They were also high-maintenance, complaining over the smallest discrepancy. They might sing Amazing Grace, but they sure didn't live it. (Wow, what a bad take on God's people.) We are to be patient with those around us, spread love, peace and joy, and to be content.
I grabbed my order, when it was up, and walked to my apartment. Riley opened his door as I pounded up the stairs. "I can't take my eyes off of you for a minute, can I?" You see two attempts had been made on my life, and the police had told Riley and my friend down stairs, to keep watch over me and not let me go anywhere alone.
"The police found the mechanic who locked me in the trunk of the car. I had to go and identify him at the police station."
His gaze brightened, "that's great!"
"He was blackmailed to lock me in the trunk. He has no idea who put him up to it."
I let my gaze travel down Riley. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Where was church boy's suit and tie, I wondered? "So much for church, huh?"
He glanced down at his clothes, "I went."
"I see, Bedside Baptist?"
He chuckled, "no, a community church that meets at a school down the street, actually." I stored away that information. Either Riley was sorely underdressed, or his church was casual.
"So, what about lunch? You owe me one since you stood me up on Friday." Riley waited for my answer. "Give me thirty minutes." "They're all yours."
Riley and I sat across from each other at a Mexican Restaurant down the street. Cheerful mariachi music blared through the speakers above as we enjoyed some chips and salsa. A mural of a Mexican Fiesta colored the walls and paper lanterns hung from the ceiling. How Could you not feel happy coming to a restaurant like this? "What else did they tell you about the man they arrested?" Riley took a sip of his soda...." "Nothing really. He cheated on his wife and the blackmailer threatened to expose him unless he locked me in the trunk."
A server placed our order on the table. The smell of cilantro and onions made my stomach growl. I waited while Riley silently bowed his head before digging in. I studied his face, the defined etch of his creeks, the slight scruff on his chin. There was something different about him. I'd known that from the start, th day we first met.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot"
"You seem like a logical person. Why do you believe in God"
"Why wouldn't I believe in God?" He looked out the window before meeting my gaze. "Life seems pretty empty without him."
"But do you really believe that this guy in heaven made the earth in six days and rested the seventh? That he made woman from a man's rib? That a fallen angel became Satan? It's the stuff of Greek Mythology."
"Where do you think we came from?"
I shrugged. I hadn't really thought about it since high school science class. "I don't know."
Riley pushed his plate away. "Let me ask you a question then. "Why don't you believe in God"
"Because if there's a God up there, He doesn't care about me, so why should I give Him my love?" I felt very vulnerable at the moment. I wished I could take the words back.
I met Riley's gaze, compassion shone in them!" It's easy to confuse life with God," he stated.
"What do you mean? I talked very softly.
"I mean, sometimes we assume that life is a reflection of God. But it's not. Life is this way because God gave us a choice on how to live, and as humans, we messed it up, therefore, we have a lot of ugliness around us. But that's not a picture of God."
"And you think I'm confusing life with God?"
"Your experiences have shaped your perspective. The truth is, when bad things happen, God grieves over them, just like we do."
What he said made sense. But I needed to turn it over in my mind." You have given me something to think about."
This is so true, to many people do confuse Life with God. Life is the way it is because God gives us a choice to live our lives. With or without him. God doesn't want robots to follow him. He wants us to choose to serve and follow him because we love him.
On Sunday mornings in Ghent, the normal buzz of cars and pedestrians' disappeared as people slept in or lingered in front of the TV sets. I passed a few regulars out walking their dogs or taking a late morning run. The few cars you would see on the streets, were usually the people headed to church.
As I ran and reflected on things, my tension eased. I wondered what my neighbor, Riley, was doing at church. His car wasn't in the parking lot, so I assumed that's where he went. I could picture him in a massive cathedral, organ playing, and people trying to appear to be Holy. Only, Riley didn't seem like that. But still, that didn't mean Christianity was for me. Life hadn't pointed me toward a loving God. If there was a God, he was a harsh dictator who enjoyed watching His children suffer, more akin to Adolf Hitler than Mother Teresa. I'd stick with my faith in science. It made more sense.
My apartment building came into view. I'd ran two miles, now, I needed a coffee. I jogged across the street and ordered a large iced mocha. As I waited, several families came inside wearing dresses and suits. The church across the street must have just gotten out. The members left a bad taste in my mouth on more than one occasion.
I'd been in several arguments with attendees, who insisted on parking in front of the apartment building, effectively leaving me without a place to park, though signs clearly stated parking was for residents only. (What a bad impression) Plus, Sharon, the Coffeehouse owner, 'dreaded' Sundays, she'd told me once. Christians were the worst tippers, often leaving tracts in place of money. They were also high-maintenance, complaining over the smallest discrepancy. They might sing Amazing Grace, but they sure didn't live it. (Wow, what a bad take on God's people.) We are to be patient with those around us, spread love, peace and joy, and to be content.
I grabbed my order, when it was up, and walked to my apartment. Riley opened his door as I pounded up the stairs. "I can't take my eyes off of you for a minute, can I?" You see two attempts had been made on my life, and the police had told Riley and my friend down stairs, to keep watch over me and not let me go anywhere alone.
"The police found the mechanic who locked me in the trunk of the car. I had to go and identify him at the police station."
His gaze brightened, "that's great!"
"He was blackmailed to lock me in the trunk. He has no idea who put him up to it."
I let my gaze travel down Riley. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Where was church boy's suit and tie, I wondered? "So much for church, huh?"
He glanced down at his clothes, "I went."
"I see, Bedside Baptist?"
He chuckled, "no, a community church that meets at a school down the street, actually." I stored away that information. Either Riley was sorely underdressed, or his church was casual.
"So, what about lunch? You owe me one since you stood me up on Friday." Riley waited for my answer. "Give me thirty minutes." "They're all yours."
Riley and I sat across from each other at a Mexican Restaurant down the street. Cheerful mariachi music blared through the speakers above as we enjoyed some chips and salsa. A mural of a Mexican Fiesta colored the walls and paper lanterns hung from the ceiling. How Could you not feel happy coming to a restaurant like this? "What else did they tell you about the man they arrested?" Riley took a sip of his soda...." "Nothing really. He cheated on his wife and the blackmailer threatened to expose him unless he locked me in the trunk."
A server placed our order on the table. The smell of cilantro and onions made my stomach growl. I waited while Riley silently bowed his head before digging in. I studied his face, the defined etch of his creeks, the slight scruff on his chin. There was something different about him. I'd known that from the start, th day we first met.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot"
"You seem like a logical person. Why do you believe in God"
"Why wouldn't I believe in God?" He looked out the window before meeting my gaze. "Life seems pretty empty without him."
"But do you really believe that this guy in heaven made the earth in six days and rested the seventh? That he made woman from a man's rib? That a fallen angel became Satan? It's the stuff of Greek Mythology."
"Where do you think we came from?"
I shrugged. I hadn't really thought about it since high school science class. "I don't know."
Riley pushed his plate away. "Let me ask you a question then. "Why don't you believe in God"
"Because if there's a God up there, He doesn't care about me, so why should I give Him my love?" I felt very vulnerable at the moment. I wished I could take the words back.
I met Riley's gaze, compassion shone in them!" It's easy to confuse life with God," he stated.
"What do you mean? I talked very softly.
"I mean, sometimes we assume that life is a reflection of God. But it's not. Life is this way because God gave us a choice on how to live, and as humans, we messed it up, therefore, we have a lot of ugliness around us. But that's not a picture of God."
"And you think I'm confusing life with God?"
"Your experiences have shaped your perspective. The truth is, when bad things happen, God grieves over them, just like we do."
What he said made sense. But I needed to turn it over in my mind." You have given me something to think about."
This is so true, to many people do confuse Life with God. Life is the way it is because God gives us a choice to live our lives. With or without him. God doesn't want robots to follow him. He wants us to choose to serve and follow him because we love him.
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