DEAR MISTER SEAN:
I’m having doubtful thoughts with everything going on. I’m confused and disappointed. I want to ask you a question. Is God real?
Sincerely, REGULAR TEENAGE GIRL
DEAR REGULAR GIRL:
My God, darling. Why couldn’t you have asked me about my favorite brand of mayonnaise instead? I’m an expert in the field of egg-based dressings.
I am not, however, the fella to ask about God. I have few answers on such high-minded matters. I can’t even figure out which eleven herbs and spices go into KFC’s Original Recipe.
And believe me, I’ve tried.
Yeah, I know you’re confused about the current state of our world. I am, too. There is a lot of uneasiness right now. Try not to worry about it. Mankind has been fussing like this since the dawn of Duke’s Mayonnaise.
Once, I saw a fight break out in a Pelham, Alabama, beer-joint. The subject of tension: God.
A loud-talking man claimed that God was nothing but barnyard fertilizer. It offended my friend, whose mother sang in the church choir. Thus, he challenged this man—who was six-times his size—to a fistfight.
Before we knew it, my buddy went down under the power.
On the ride home, we four teenagers discussed mysteries of the eternal, using our serious voices.
Finally, someone asked, “You think God’s real?”
I answered without thinking. And in a sentence, nine-hundred-year’s worth of Bible-Belt heritage came out.
I said, “You damn right he’s real.”
And I sounded like a boy who needed help spelling his name.
The fact is, when some folks talk about God, they’re not talking about God at all. They’re speaking about miracles, greasy televangelists, faith healers, or a celestial Santa Claus with a white beard. I may be uneducated, but those aren’t God.
Nevertheless, you asked me a straight question, so here’s my answer: Cassidy.
She’s my answer.
Cassidy was nineteen. Beautiful. Her parents died. Her grandmother raised her. One day at a gas station, a man followed her to her car. He raped her. He beat her.
Police caught him. He went to prison. Nine months thereafter, Cassidy gave birth to a son. His son.
Years later, the man made parole. Cassidy organized a meeting with him—against everyone’s advice. She met him in a public place. She embraced him. She gave him the privilege of meeting his biological child.
Cassidy told him, “You tried to ruin me, but it didn’t work. I love my son. And I love you, too.”
Now there’s a person you should ask about God. Because she touched something. Something big. A thing so beautiful she wanted to share it with the ugliest soul she could think of.
Is God real?
You’re damn right he is, sweetie.
His name is, Love.
13 comments
Jennifer - January 22, 2017 2:51 pm
Beautiful story. What a strong woman. Love is such a powerful thing. Thank you for sharing this very real and honest truth about God. She couldn’t have found a better answer.
Carol DeLater - January 22, 2017 6:30 pm
You hear stories like this all the time. The real question is not Is God Real, but Who is God. Or what is one’s perception of God. I believe Native Indians knew God, as do Muslims, Hindu and Buddhist. Every child needs a God to believe in, no matter religion. For everyone, even an Atheist must believe in a Higher Power.
I’m pretty weird in my thinking, but not really. To each his own. I’m a liberal that believes in separation of church and state, but not that a Nativity Scene should be removed from public property. I say Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. You are right. God IS love and we must do what each of us can to keep Love in our hearts.
Good Post Sean.
Carol
Michael Hawke - January 23, 2017 1:47 am
Glad you’ve got it figured out.
Michelle Kibodeaux - January 23, 2017 3:19 am
You blow me away on a daily basis, so you’d think I’d be used to it. Nope. This one, whew, this one earned you a TKO.
Vaunda Seetin Noerenberg - January 24, 2017 3:33 pm
I read and digest your blogs every day. I am so appreciative of your voice that murmurs “love” and “care about each other” and “try to understand” to us. Our son-in-law took his life one year ago, leaving a wife and 2 teens with more questions and no answers. Your honest sharing of your journey to date following the loss of your dad is poignant but gives us hope. Sophie, age 17, wrote in her school’s online vent http://www.nonsibijournal.com/2017/01/one-year/
on the anniversary of his death. She delivered a eulogy at his funeral as well, with a great deal of poise and grace, artfully subduing her fears. https://youtu.be/shoD1KCV3uk
Our daughter recently moved the family back to New Orleans and they are carving out a new existence. Reading your blogs gave us a new perspective on patience, healing, what is possible, etc. Thank you so much! for caring enough to share from your soul.
Sandra Marrar - February 25, 2017 4:02 pm
Beautiful! I never get tired of reading your writings.
Jeff Mc Bride - February 25, 2017 7:29 pm
Just a note to say, thank you. Your stories touch me everyday. All of them, in some way, are all of us. Real.
We’re only here for a brief moment in time, and when something moves me the way that your writing does, I feel the need to express it.
Sean, thanks again. Be blessed.
Sandra - March 31, 2017 7:48 pm
Just found your blog through a friend. Glad I did. You can teach me a thing or two.
Susan Bishop - August 31, 2018 3:58 am
Well….a friend sent me one of your post and I read it and I can identify with your poor unloved characters…..but what I wanted to know was Sean a christian ..? Did he believe in Jesus Christ death burial resurrection? I think you do but not use to reading your writings maybe after awhile I will figure it out.
I am a believer in Jesus Christ after going thru a sickness and death of my son he seems even more real and the Bible speaks of a place he has gone to prepare for us…and I am looking forward to seeing my son again in Beautiful Heaven.
Thank you for your red shoes story very good I wasn’t that poor but shoes were always a treat to get a new pair especially after my toes hurt because my feet had grown so much or holes in the bottom..
Charaleen Wright - March 21, 2019 5:51 am
❤
Charaleen Wright - March 30, 2019 3:30 am
Love the tractor drawing. Is the deer’s name ‘John’. Very clever!
P J W N - March 20, 2020 3:51 pm
I wondered the same, is Sean a born-again Christian? I certainly hope so. Love is wonderful and is something God tells us to do. But loving others won’t get us to heaven unless we love out of the abundance of Christ’s love in us. In other words, we have to believe in Jesus in order to love like the young lady in the story.
Debby - January 18, 2024 11:12 pm
Splendid and authentic writing! I’m looking forward to reading your heart thoughts after your personal (and life-changing) encounter with your Savior and Maker. Then you’ll be equipped spiritually with not only your amazing earthly views but also the wisdom of His kingdom views.