Faith in a God

I recently read an article outlining an interview with an atheist celebrity. He was asked what he would say if he met God. His response shocked me a bit but made me more sad than anything. He told the interviewer that he would call God out on creating things that are evil like cancer in children and allowing hardship that affects the innocent. He went on to say that he would not spend his life in gratitude to someone who could have easily not created certain bugs that cause blindness and would never worship a being on those terms.

This not only made me sad but also made me think upon my faith in such a being. A God who yes, created pesky flies and poisonous spiders, but also created beautiful horses and flowing rivers. The Heavenly Father I have come to know and love is a merciful God who loves all his children. My response to this man's accusations is that everything must have an opposite. If there was no sickness we could not know health, if there was no pain we could not know comfort.

This life is a test. We were sent to Earth to come closer to and become more like God. If all of the exams we took in school were easy, we would not have to stretch our minds and engage in active learning. Life is the same way. We will all be tested in different ways. Some are external (like sickness), others are internal (like heartbreak and depression). The answers we give to these trials are what define us: in our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. God is the only and ultimate judge. He knows perfectly what we have gone through and where our hearts lie. As people in the world we may not be able to distinguish and judge perfectly, but He can. And that is the beauty of it all. Even with all of the evil in the world, we can come to understand that an all-knowing being is in control. Life has a purpose, and that purpose is to be happy. Through coming closer to our Heavenly Father we can find true joy that lasts even through the hardest of times and the worst of trials.

I believe in a Savior and in a loving Father in heaven. This belief brings me peace and joy. As I continue to be obedient and show gratitude to such a Father, that joy will continue to grow. All it takes is a little faith.

The Need for Respect

I had the amazing opportunity to visit Istanbul, Turkey during Christmas Break. While visiting one of the many breathtaking mosques, I noticed 3 ladies (also visitors) who did not cover their heads. I do not follow the Islamic
religion, but I was a bit offended. Mosques are not public places, visitors do not have to be allowed inside. In fact, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is closed to visitors because there were so many instances of disrespect of their holy place. Is it really so much to ask to put a scarf or hood on for the 20 minutes that you are inside? That 20 minutes makes a huge difference to the people that actually use the mosque to worship.

But of course, I am religious and can relate to people who hold things spiritually sacred. If you can't imagine why any plot of land would be worth more than another then just picture that you have a brand new, clean carpet and then a neighbor comes over and walks on it with shoes on. Its just carpet, what's the big deal? Why is it any more special than the old tile you have in the rest of your home?

Mosques, churches, temples and homes are not just buildings. They are places where respect is required by those who hold these places sacred and dear. So much of the evil going on in our world today comes from a lack of respect. Racism and reverse racism are two issues that we have heard a lot about lately. The bottom line is be nice to each other. Nothing gets done when whites blame blacks and blacks blame whites. The same goes for gay rights and gender identity. Just because I may not agree with a certain lifestyle doesn't mean I shouldn't be nice and respect those who choose that life.

I am not saying that we should have an "anything goes" attitude or restrict what we say because it might offend someone. Respect works both ways. Too many people get offended at the smallest things. There is an entire play making fun of the Mormon religion, but has the church attempted to sue the producers? No. They have instead encouraged people to look into what our real beliefs are. If I choose to pray before a sports game, those that don't believe in God should not be offended; just as I won't be offended if you do not pray. We live in a supposedly tolerant society, let's act like it. It is possible to share a differing opinion while still being sensitive to other beliefs.

Politics, Religion, Race, and Culture should not divide us as people, they should instead cause creativity and further our continual quest for truth. All it takes is a little respect.