It was her first year...
Illustration
It was her first year in college. She was away from home and she found all the new ideas and thoughts exciting.
As these new ideas stretched her mind, she found herself separating from family and friends back home, and developing a new community of support.
As the year continued she found herself wondering about the existence of God. After all, the stories about Jesus were pretty far-fetched. Her science classes offered a much more plausible explanation of creation. And God's supposed presence could be explained by circumstances.
So, in one of her infrequent calls home she informed her mother that she no longer believed in God, and would appreciate her family getting off her back about going to church.
The loneliness and pain of separation filled her as she hung up the phone. She looked at her life without faith, without hope. She lasted one week, and then the second call home, "Mom, I can't live without God's presence, there is nothing to live for. I do believe, but I have so many doubts and fears."
Jesus stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
As these new ideas stretched her mind, she found herself separating from family and friends back home, and developing a new community of support.
As the year continued she found herself wondering about the existence of God. After all, the stories about Jesus were pretty far-fetched. Her science classes offered a much more plausible explanation of creation. And God's supposed presence could be explained by circumstances.
So, in one of her infrequent calls home she informed her mother that she no longer believed in God, and would appreciate her family getting off her back about going to church.
The loneliness and pain of separation filled her as she hung up the phone. She looked at her life without faith, without hope. She lasted one week, and then the second call home, "Mom, I can't live without God's presence, there is nothing to live for. I do believe, but I have so many doubts and fears."
Jesus stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
