There's a gentleman at work who suffers from primary progressive multiple sclerosis. I first met him several years ago when I started at S&WCHSC. He was still getting around perfectly well, performing deliveries on multiple floors. Now his mobility is limited enough that he relies on his delivery cart as a walker and they've limited his deliveries to only the main floor. He tires quickly throughout the day and there are three or four areas where he can be reliably found to rest his feet for a little while.
I can't remember if he was always this devout but nowadays, he finds
strength in his religion and his faith in God. He will start preaching
the words of his fellow Seventh Day Adventists at any given opportunity
and insist that you are a witness to the truth. It's fairly noble and
even though I'm not a believer, I can easily see and understand how he
is one of those for whom religion is a necessity and way of life. He
is looking for hope and a miracle, which makes him the church's target
audience, so to speak.
Still, on difficult days and longer nights, he admits to finding himself in the throes of depression, and the cloud hanging about him is visible the next day he walks into our department for a seat. Today, after a long weekend alone at home, unable to find company amongst his friends who are all celebrating Easter with their own families, he shuffled in lamenting the fact that he did not have a girl to share the holidays with, one of whom he could enjoy....the pleasures of the female flesh. As pious as he might be, I guess his mind still drifts until it stalls to obsess over carnal human pleasures.
Nothing my colleague or I said could dissuade him from his gloom as he stayed defiant in his lust until our student (forty years old but a student nonetheless, and a religious man himself) came in and asked if he had truthfully accepted his condition. The student was painfully blunt. He asked if he was truly at peace with his debilitating illness and if he truly had the faith to believe in God's Plan. He asked if he understood that God wouldn't saddle him with more than he could bear and if, in this moment of difficulty, he could still love God and remain true to his teachings. Satisfied with that much, he reminded him that as an unmarried man that his carnal thoughts shouldn't even enter his mind. Our guest, believing the student to be a wise man and the only one sensible in the department who spoke his mind, agreed absolutely.
Then the student told a parable from his life experience. He told us of a couple in his church who despite being in their mid-40's and trying for years were still unable to bear children as their peers raised families around them. He described them as good, God-fearing people but how the frustration had reached such a point that the husband could not even look at other children without seething with anger. Every week, they would pray that a heavenly power would help them conceive. I had expected a happy ending, but the student's perceived moral proved me wrong.
So I called him on it. Probably in harsher terms than I had meant to, and I no doubt had no need to explain the different levels on which an Atheist would be offended by his insinuations, but I let him know I was walking out if he didn't stop talking because it was well over my line. That's when he said,
Which, I guess, wouldn't make you all that different from the other religious folks I've had the pleasure of meeting.
Still, on difficult days and longer nights, he admits to finding himself in the throes of depression, and the cloud hanging about him is visible the next day he walks into our department for a seat. Today, after a long weekend alone at home, unable to find company amongst his friends who are all celebrating Easter with their own families, he shuffled in lamenting the fact that he did not have a girl to share the holidays with, one of whom he could enjoy....the pleasures of the female flesh. As pious as he might be, I guess his mind still drifts until it stalls to obsess over carnal human pleasures.
Nothing my colleague or I said could dissuade him from his gloom as he stayed defiant in his lust until our student (forty years old but a student nonetheless, and a religious man himself) came in and asked if he had truthfully accepted his condition. The student was painfully blunt. He asked if he was truly at peace with his debilitating illness and if he truly had the faith to believe in God's Plan. He asked if he understood that God wouldn't saddle him with more than he could bear and if, in this moment of difficulty, he could still love God and remain true to his teachings. Satisfied with that much, he reminded him that as an unmarried man that his carnal thoughts shouldn't even enter his mind. Our guest, believing the student to be a wise man and the only one sensible in the department who spoke his mind, agreed absolutely.
Then the student told a parable from his life experience. He told us of a couple in his church who despite being in their mid-40's and trying for years were still unable to bear children as their peers raised families around them. He described them as good, God-fearing people but how the frustration had reached such a point that the husband could not even look at other children without seething with anger. Every week, they would pray that a heavenly power would help them conceive. I had expected a happy ending, but the student's perceived moral proved me wrong.
"It was obvious that if they had conceived a child that they would treat him as a pagan god. At times, he would tell me that they would do anything for the child if they had one. Missing church would not be a surprise. And I told them, this is why you don't have a child. You've told me explicitly but God can read your subconscious. Its these unfaithful and rebellious thoughts that he sees and why he won't grant you a child.It was then that I blew up. I couldn't listen to more of his story, and I couldn't watch our guest buy it. I understand why people need religion. I understand how they find within it a greater source of strength than they might find in themselves, and a source of hope and love from an infinite power. I can even tolerate people living literally by the Good Book and preaching its words as, for a lifestyle guide, one can certainly do much worse. But I can't stand idly by and watch as someone peddles snake oil and false promises in the His name. To say that the reason he still suffers daily from the pain and humiliation of multiple sclerosis because he is impure? And to imply that God wouldn't have given him such a burden if he didn't deserve it? That's utter garbage. That's cruel and insensitive and beyond that, that's implying as if you know better than any of us, as if you know as well as Him.
You see, your condition is the same way. God sees your impure thoughts and knows you are unworthy of a miracle. Miracles are not out of the question, everything is within His power. If you were his loyal servant, then he may find you worthy of healing."
So I called him on it. Probably in harsher terms than I had meant to, and I no doubt had no need to explain the different levels on which an Atheist would be offended by his insinuations, but I let him know I was walking out if he didn't stop talking because it was well over my line. That's when he said,
"I'm only explaining it in these terms because he is a religious man. If I was speaking to you, I'd explain it differently."Oh? Is that so? Is your so-called Truth not for everyone? Or are you just a two-faced hypocritical raconteur with a parable for every occasion depending on your audience?
Which, I guess, wouldn't make you all that different from the other religious folks I've had the pleasure of meeting.
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