Something to Think About

     In this morning's issue of the local newspaper was an article about some people who had "graduated" from a local program designed to get them "back on their feet," and able to take care of their families.  I was surprised at how I felt as they expressed their thanks to God, and talked of their desire to "get it right" this time.  I guess I thought, a bit, about my own conversion to Christianity, which has been the best thing to ever happen in my life, and felt a connection with a group of people I'd not known about until I read the newspaper this morning.

     I tried to look back at the time when I practiced Secular Humanism, and it was hard.  It's been 41 years since I began a journey to convert to Latter-day Saint Christianity, and accepted the fact that there was something guiding all things.  Trust me, I have gone through a lot in that time; I didn't always comply with the LDS guidelines; and I tried (many times) to give up on religion, but something always kept me from straying too far.  Back about ten years ago, I finally had that "moment of clarity," as AA calls it, and I realized that a forgiveness of my sins (of which there were many) began when I start to forgive myself.  I was fortunate, in this moment, to know that I had been forgiven for my sins the first time I asked, and that my Heavenly Father was, frankly, rather tired of hearing me drag them out time and time again.  Past was past, and it was time to get on with my life.

     I've always had empathy for Victor Hugo's main character in Les Miserables, Jean Valjean.  I know what it's like to have your past come back to haunt you, and to feel like someone was trying to make that past public.  I had things, some of them more embarrassing than sinful, and I would talk about them, if required, but I didn't like to talk of those things.  It always seemed that I had to talk about them; someone had to know.  Then, I had my moment, and none of it mattered any more.  I was "square" with my Heavenly Father, and I was even able to see the humor in some of my more embarrassing moments, and actually laugh about them.

     For those of you who want to hang onto your denials of man's "divine nature," I say knock yourself out, just allow me the opportunity to believe as I wish to believe.  One of the reasons Christian converts try to go out and teach their friends is because we've held your beliefs, we know that there is nothing to hope for with those beliefs, we want you to know what life is like when hope is restored in your life.

     Without hope, life is hard.  Life is one dreary day after another.  Is that what life is about?  Not for me, anyway.