Why I'm not an atheist

I have a number of friends who are atheists.  I'm fine with that, they're all intelligent, educated and well-read people who came to the conclusion after a great deal of thought.  And, it's not any of my business any more than my beliefs are any of theirs. 

One of them, my friend John, was asked by my children to read them a book titled "The Story of Easter", which he read as a zombie tale. 

"See?  All the people have their arms in the air because they're running from the zombie.  He wants to eat their brains."  he told them.

"He does not!"  they protested.

"He's a zombie.  People who come back from the dead are zombies. So Jesus is a zombie.  They're not smiling, they're screaming." 

I admit that the more I learn about religious and Biblical history the more I understand why atheists are atheists.  Because, well, the Bible was written by men who then re-wrote it to suit their own means.  However, I do have a favorite book of the Bible, Song of Soloman, bow-chicka-wow-wow!  I like to quote from it on May Day. 

But, the Word of God?  Well, I can write on a piece of paper "Amanda has a million dollars in the bank.", but it doesn't make it true.

Still, I do have an invisible friend.  Sometimes I need someone to talk to who will just listen and won't charge me, someone I can rant to when I'm alone in the car and then feel better.

I like the exercise of 'Giving it over to God'.  Afterwards, I can take a breath, restart blood flow to my brain after being in a tizzy and get some rational thought going again.

And there are times I feel really helpless, like, when I was really hoping all the Chilean miners would make it out alive or when my mom was having her melanoma removed.  Lighting a candle and offering a prayer makes me feel like I'm actually contributing to the situation. 

Lately, I've been really digging on Mary.  She's a woman and a mom who'd understand my day-to-day worries.  She'd also point out that she potty trained her kids with a hole in the ground so perhaps I should quit my whining. 

Anyway, I have my invisible friend to make me feel like I'm not alone in this.  And I find it comforting. 

That's right for me.  Is it right for anyone else?  A Buddhist monk would say "That's not my problem." 

End deep thoughts. 

Amanda's beauty tip of the day:  If you like a pencil eyeliner, Wet & Wild makes a great one that only costs a buck and can be found at the grocery store.