Tuesday, April 15, 2014

The Faith of an Unbeliever


While it's been many, many years since I considered myself a Believer of any sort, the idea of a deity continues to fascinate me and now and again I read something that really strikes a chord with my particular belief/non-belief system.

I came across this in a recent re-reading of Jo Walton's Among Others:

“To tell the truth I've been pretty angry with God ever since Mor died. He doesn’t seem to do anything, or to help at all. But I suppose it’s like magic, you can’t tell if it does anything, or why, not to mention mysterious ways. If I were omnipotent and omnibenevolent I wouldn’t be so damn ineffable.”


Voltaire said: If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.

At this beautiful time of year (even with a freeze predicted for tonight,) I think of Kaylin Haught's wonderful little poem... and this is the God I'd invent.


God Says Yes to Me

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
and she said yes
I asked it it was okay to be short
and she said it sure is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
or not wear nail polish
and she said honey
she calls me that sometimes
she said you can do just exactly 
what you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it even okay if I don't paragraph
my letters
Sweetcakes God said
who knows where she picked that up
what I'm telling you is
Yes Yes Yes


11 comments:

Ms. A said...

I've always been a believer, and even more of a believer when I witnessed my grandchildren being born. I thanked the Lord when I gave birth to my own, but I was a little preoccupied to do much witnessing. Much different seeing my grandchildren enter the world.

Merisi said...

Beautiful poem!
I believe in Goodness. ;-)

Martin said...

Vicki, I'd never seen this poem before. It's just wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.

Brian Miller said...

ha. fun poem. but i am glad i have a god that says no. because if she said yes to everything that crossed my mind, we would all be in trouble...esp the conservatives...ha

Barbara Rogers said...

Saying yes to many things today...and hope the rain stops long enough to move baby plants to warmer place and cover them before tonight's freeze! I guess god is in everything in my life.

Frances said...

Thank you Vicki. Spring has many gifts. Folks smile so much more as the flowers bloom.

xo

NCmountainwoman said...

I love the poem. Yes, as long as you are not harming the earth or your fellow man live your life as you choose.

Thérèse said...

Thanks for sharing.
Same thing here.
So many miracles that one wonders...

Lise said...

Lovely poem. I'd like yes, yes, yes to answer the question, "Is spring ever going to stick around?"

Unknown said...

I love to write poetry. I really enjoyed yours. :)

Jime said...

I have been in the Grand Canyon park for 4 days hence the absence from your blog.

You have hit on a favorite subject of mine. I have a simple up front god and she is called Mother Earth. We are all in her care and treat her so badly. Who needs a god that makes war and famine through selfish and vengeful actions.

Our Garden of Eden is all around us if we could only open our eyes to see.