Just because I don't believe it, doesn't mean it isn't true

A couple of evenings ago, a group of women from my church gathered in my home to share. We do this on a weekly basis to discuss our faith goals for that week and where we fell a little short. It's an accountability group designed to keep our spiritual life on track.

Our discussion topic this week was "Do I trust in God or fear evil?" This made some of us come face to face with our Catholic Christian upbringing. The majority of us, whether it be in the US or Canada or Mexico, admitted that a lot of our Catholic foundation was built on fearing evil. We grew up before the Vatican II changes, when much of our Catholic education was based on following all the rules. We did everything possible to avoid hell! The idea of mercy didn't have a chance in a small child's mind filled with fear and darkness.

One of our members is a new Catholic Christian. Having converted to the Catholic church 5 years ago, she often brings a new way of thinking to our table. She is not tainted with a historical view of our religion, rather offers a different lens to see things through. Her viewpoint, often different from ours, feels like a breath of fresh air, or at the very least a platform for a great discussion.

Now I may not be able to agree with everything she says, but I do respect where she is coming from. I realize that each and everyone of us is dealing with issues that color our daily lives. Our backgrounds, upbringing and worldly experiences help to shade and tint our realities. Once you get to our stage of life, there is not much we haven't seen or heard. Although there is much of it that I wish I hadn't. I don't believe in black and white.... there is way too much gray out there.

I didn't really want to debate our Catholic dogma or doctrine, or even comment on discipline or devotions. No... I just felt compelled to acknowledge that we are all different, with different ways to approach things. God loved us that much that he made us all individuals with a wide range of gifts and talents. What one brings to the table, is usually something that another lacks.

So when all was said and done and the hugging was over, I was thankful for another viewpoint. And besides... just because I don't believe it, doesn't mean it's not true.