04-04-2012, 12:42 PM
It is because they actually believe that stuff, Billy. TV preachers and Internet evangelist may not believe it, but those everyday folks believe with their whole heart that they are putting up treasures in heaven by participating in those rituals and so they make sure that they never miss the opportunity.
My family isn't Catholic, but are very strict protestants. For the first twenty years of my life I never once saw my mother's hair cut. She never even got it trimmed because they believed that it was a sin. She felt like it was a sacrifice that she made for God on Earth that would be rewarded in heaven.
I don't believe quite that way at all . . .
I have a sack full of doubts about God and what I should be doing exactly, but I'll be honest- and I don't think I could've said this six months ago- I have this certainty inside me that there is something real about it.
I started praying. No certain time, no certain words- just praying. Most of the prayers I have heard in my life are petitions. Most of the petitions I've heard were delivered in a wailing, redneck-sounding rendition of the King James version of the Bible ad-libbed. Always asking for something . . . so I thought I'd just start thanking God for the good stuff and not ask for much of anything until it counted. And you know what? It seems to be working.
I've had a lot more jobs lately and things just seem to be going my way. Now maybe it is just because its summer time and the season is bringing the extra work. Or maybe I just psyched myself out into believing God has anything to do with it.
Maybe thinking of the good things has been such a positive influence in my life that it has manifested into actual good fortune.
Maybe that night when I was pulled over on the side of the road with the Statie behind me flashing red and blue lights and had no valid driver's license and I silently prayed (or maybe aloud, I can't remember) it was just a coincidence that the Trooper let me slide without even giving me a warning. It certainly could be a coincidence, but I want to believe it was more.
Whatever it is, I think I'll keep it up for a while and see what happens next
My family isn't Catholic, but are very strict protestants. For the first twenty years of my life I never once saw my mother's hair cut. She never even got it trimmed because they believed that it was a sin. She felt like it was a sacrifice that she made for God on Earth that would be rewarded in heaven.
I don't believe quite that way at all . . .
I have a sack full of doubts about God and what I should be doing exactly, but I'll be honest- and I don't think I could've said this six months ago- I have this certainty inside me that there is something real about it.
I started praying. No certain time, no certain words- just praying. Most of the prayers I have heard in my life are petitions. Most of the petitions I've heard were delivered in a wailing, redneck-sounding rendition of the King James version of the Bible ad-libbed. Always asking for something . . . so I thought I'd just start thanking God for the good stuff and not ask for much of anything until it counted. And you know what? It seems to be working.
I've had a lot more jobs lately and things just seem to be going my way. Now maybe it is just because its summer time and the season is bringing the extra work. Or maybe I just psyched myself out into believing God has anything to do with it.
Maybe thinking of the good things has been such a positive influence in my life that it has manifested into actual good fortune.
Maybe that night when I was pulled over on the side of the road with the Statie behind me flashing red and blue lights and had no valid driver's license and I silently prayed (or maybe aloud, I can't remember) it was just a coincidence that the Trooper let me slide without even giving me a warning. It certainly could be a coincidence, but I want to believe it was more.
Whatever it is, I think I'll keep it up for a while and see what happens next