Going Up, or Going Down?

I can tell you the exact moment that I realized God was real.  I could tell you it was because of the book, A Prayer For Owen Meany, because it was the most wonderful and heart wrenching book I have ever read.  I still can't think about the final page without tearing up and wanting to hug the darn book.  I wish Owen Meany was real, and I am convinced he was real, because nobody could just make him up.  Owen Meany made me want to believe in God.

 I could tell you it was my 1st grade argument with a Nun in CCD.  That was a good one, how many Nuns do you think have had a 6 year old child asking them to show them the contract they signed at birth accepting Adam and Eve's Original Sin as their own?  I am guessing not too many.  For some reason, I was a little pissed off that I had to pay for someone else's mistakes.  Little did I know that would become my specialty in life, fixing mistakes that others made. 

But I must be honest, God hit me smack in the middle of my forehead one day, and I will never forget it.  I was in my 20's, my best friend from childhood was engaged, and I made a bad choice and spent the night with her fiancé's brother.  It was something I brushed off and never thought about again, until I went to the rehearsal at the church.  I had been to this church many times growing up, I often went to church with my friend.  Her parents were always so kind and seemed happy that I wanted to go with them (it was much more gentle than my Roman Catholic church experience)  So, after years of not being in town, I drove to the church and parked in the back lot, where we had parked while I was growing up so many times. 

I went to the little back door, and inside there were 2 sets of stairs, one going up and one going down.  I wasn't sure where to go for the rehearsal, and as I looked down I noticed the Pastor (a new one, someone I had not met before), so I asked, "Am I going up, or am I going down?"  I guess I just expected him to know that I was there for my friend's wedding rehearsal.  I always expect people to know what I am thinking!  So, the Pastor looked at me for a moment, and he smiled and said, "Oh, you are going UP!". 

Suddenly I realized that a holy minister had just told me I was going UP.  I thanked him and excitedly skipped up the stairs to the chapel.  And just as I walked in the door, the only person there was right in the door and it was the fiancé's brother!!!!  I just looked up and mentally told God, "OK, I get your point.  I am not there yet!"   And after that I never made a bad choice like that again.  Because I want to go UP.  Not that it guarantees it, but I felt something real and knew the path I had to follow. 

So, God does have a sense of humor.  But He still means business.  And I am totally on board now.  Better late than never, right?