Blind Faith

Raul Kamal, 17.09.04

The conversation of 'Faith' came up with a stranger at the bus stop. He questioned the existence of God.

"Why can’t I see a God if he exists?" he exclaimed.

"I don't understand why, when or how did God come into existence".

"And if you can't even prove this to me, then why should I put blind faith into someone or something I have never seen, and even consider to devote my life to it?"

Some would stumble or even hesitate before they realise the answers to these questions. I had noticed the defensive barrier the gentleman had invisibly held between us. It was going to be a real challenge but one I was not going to shy away from.

I thought for a moment and instantly recalled something my father had told me. "Son, if ever you need answers or strength, turn to this Almighty and he will never let you down." I now had the answers. I looked towards the man and smiled.

"Let me start by answering your question with a question", I said. "Oxygen exists right? We can’t see it, but we know it exists to aid our very existence. God is similar. No where if you wish to overlook him, but everywhere if you choose to see".

I had fulfilled his first doubt. I continued, "If I blew a dog whistle, you wouldn’t hear anything. Every dog in range though, would react immediately. We do not have all the answers, but if we choose to ignore or reject anything we do not ‘understand’ then man as a whole would not have made huge technological advances as it has. The answers are again there for those who care to look."

The stranger at this point began to listen intently. I could see his surprise and astonishment at the words being uttered from someone almost half his age. I continued, "Lastly, you talk about putting your hands in the life of someone you have never seen, implying that it would be insane. Does that mean that every time you fly abroad you insist on meeting the Pilot? By sitting on a plane and not knowing anything about the person flying it you are surely entrusting him with your life."

"Why then is it difficult to believe in someone greater than us all who has created this beautiful earth we live on? Why then do you insist in calling this 'Blind Faith'?"

At this moment, my bus arrived and as this was not the same bus the stranger required, our conversation came to a halt. I sat at the back of the bus and turned around for one last glance to the stranger I had left at the bus stop. His eyes were glued to me and I noticed a certain glow in them. He smiled at me and waved. It was at this moment that I realised that my words had not been in vain.

For he too had developed Blind Faith.