I am the type of person who spends a lot of time in reflection. I have no reason, but I try to glean some wisdom from experience, especially now that I officially have some :) Last night, I was remembering a brief conversation with an agnostic young man who was resolved never to get caught up in religion again. He had fallen in love with a young Mormon girl and tried to enter that church. The break up was acrimonious, and left a bad taste in his mouth.
He couldn't get past the notion of original sin. He said that he cannot reconcile a loving God with His creations being inherently "bad". There was no phrasing it in a way that he would hear. Each attempt I made was rejected with hostility. Well, I let go and let God, because if he wants to go through life making excuses for his mistakes and rationalizing negative behaviors, with prayer from believers, he will recognize that there IS such a thing as right and wrong.
Then, my mind went to another conversation, this time with a searching, young teenage woman. She said that the concept of purgatory bothered her, that it makes her want to turn away from God. Now at least with her, there was the belief in a Loving and Living God, so I was able to get my foot in the door.
First, I was able to tell her that purgatory is a spiritual cleansing period, because she cannot be presented to the Father with an unclean soul. That, she said was insulting, because that is saying God doesn't love her the way she is.
Aha! I said, it proves that He does love her, the real her, not the one who may have done something she didn't confess, the original sin side in us all. He wants to see her as beautiful as she was the day He made her.
It just happened to be a time when she and one of my daughters were getting ready for prom. I told her, "Okay, so, when you go to the prom, you won't need this dress or the new hair do. Don't get your nails done, don't put on make up and GOD FORBID you take a shower!" She just laughed. So I explained that what could be more important than a prom? That would be going before the King of Kings, the Most High. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Purgatory is painful, because you are removed from God's presence, but you will not STAY there, and when you are presented before God, you will be clean, as Adam and Eve were when He first created them.
Well, she waived me off, and continued shopping for the perfect pair of shoes. But you know, I spoke with her dear mother about ten years later. Her daughter is considering consecrated life even though her mom feels she is too young. And, she might be, because I don't know her as her mother does. But, it turns out that pooh-poohed conversation had an impact that I didn't know about!
You never know when you will make a difference. Even the smallest gesture of kindness or even unsolicited advice can make a big change in someone's heart. I wonder what that young man is doing these days?
