Stop Believing the Unbelievable!

I used to believe in the Tooth Fairy.  I no longer do.

I used to believe in Santa Claus.  Not any more.

Same with the Easter Bunny: Used to believe...no longer do.

Those are the easy ones.  We don't usually bring up the uneasy ones in polite conversation.  Mostly, I think, because we would like to go on believing the unbelievable.

Do you still believe that if 100 people are praying to God for something to happen, that it is more effective than just 10 people praying for that same thing?

Do you continue to believe that violence can bring about peace?

Do you cling to a belief that God controls life and death?  (Tough one, huh?)

I have been saying to myself...and to others...for a good many years now: There comes a time to stop believing the unbelievable.  Some faith-professing friends find that bothersome for me to say, or to put in print.

Recently, as I stood with a grieving mother and her friends at the cemetery...
Watching as a grave-digger lay prone on the ground to lower the very small casket into the very small hole in the ground...
Listening to well-meaning friends attempt to speak of the unspeakable...
Reading the words of the liturgy that we used to celebrate and mourn a life that ended the moment it was birthed...
I was struck full-force with how much I truly am convinced that there does come a time for us to stop believing the unbelievable...and struck also by how harsh and hurtful such a time might be.

(I am reminded of the old saying that: The truth will set you free...but first it will piss you off!)

Is it time to stop believing that God is in charge of life and death, health and wealth, winners and losers?

And is it time to own up to our responsibility for life on this planet, and in our time?

Is it time to stop believing that 5 people praying for someone's healing won't move God to action, but 500 will?

And is it time to drop altogether any belief in a God who "moves to action" only when enough people get with the program?

Is it time to stop believing that God created Heaven and Hell, and spends time and energy assigning "good folks" to the former and "bad folks" to the latter?

And is it time to grow out of our need for eternal reward and/or eternal punishment to balance the scales of some twisted sense of cosmic justice?

Even discussing these topics can be painful for some people.  Feelings can get hurt.  Comfort and solace can be neutered.

But...when God is Grace, Forgiveness, and Presence...and is available to offer the best option in any situation; and when human beings are actually responsible for life and death, health and wealth, and winners and losers...things get a bit more believable. 

For me.