This I Believe

I believe in something greater. I believe that there is a higher power, and that He loves us. I’ve never won “Ms. Popularity” for this belief, but I hold it all the same. I know for a fact that, somewhere out there, there is an omnipotent, omnipresent, all-powerful being. “But how do you know?” I get asked that a lot. I know this because I have witnessed it. You may not believe this story, but I don’t care. Every word of it is true.
I was seven years of age, and I was at a church. Before I get deep into this story, let me explain something. This is not a miracle healing story. I didn’t see Mary floating, and there was no pillar of fire. My miracle was much more subtle, and completely impossible to prove, but I assure you, It’s 100% true. I was at my father’s Secretary’s church. There were games and clowns blowing balloon animals for the smaller children (myself included), and there was food. So much food! The older ladies of the church’s congregation had apparently had a heyday when preparing this feast. There was fried chicken, Macaroni and cheese, things I had never seen before, and it was all delicious. Now, granted I was seven years old, I wasn’t deeply religious. I had gone to church, but that was it. I had no relationship with God, and no want to have one. I was happy with just being a kid. But after all the children and I had our fill, we went upstairs, where two people spoke to us. They told us about how 2000 years ago there was a man who did nothing wrong. A man who only helped people. They went on to tell us that this man was the son of God, and that he loved us. The leaders in his time were worried about what he was teaching, and, out of fear, killed him. They told me about how they had whipped him, beat him, and crowned him with thorns. They told us how he was forced to carry a cross up to a hill, and how they proceeded to nail him to the cross. I listened to them tell me that they mockingly nailed a sign to the top of the cross that read THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then the soldiers that had brought the man there lifted the cross into an upright position. But even as he died, he forgave a man beside him “Then he [The criminal] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 42 and 43. And, with one of his last breathes, he called to heaven and said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then the man who did nothing wrong died. But he arose three days later, triumphant over death, and he saved us all. I heard these words like never before, and then the man and woman who told us this story asked us to close our eyes. They told us that there was no pressure, but, if it felt right, you could raise your hand and they would tell us how we could accept the Christ as our savior. And as these words left the woman’s mouth, something strange happened within me. There was a feeling I had never had before, like all of me was filling up with hope and joy and peace. And I know what that feeling was. People have tried to tell me it was adrenaline from the story, or my body was acting strange, or I was making it up, but I know what it was. It was God. I know that that probably sounds odd to you, but I’m telling the truth. God spoke to me, not in a voice, but through a feeling. Every word of this story was completely true. I have not fabricated a single iota of this story. Not one word was made up. There is something greater than you and me, and He loves us very much. This I believe