The Here and the Hereafter

Background:  it is innate in us beings of intelligence to know in our hearts that there is a being much bigger than we are, big enough to create our planet and our universe.  We name this being "God" or "Yahweh" or "Allah."  If our parents raised us to worship God, to join with others to worship God, we call this practice "religion" and we are truly blessed.  If both our parents believed in the same formal religion, we are doubly blessed.

Research has shown that those who are members of a religious group are generally happier than those who are not members. Religious groups are a wonderful "support system."  We help each other out as needed.  This is the 'here and now.'

Many religions believe that when we die our souls live on forever.  This is the 'hereafter.'  The belief, or lack thereof, affects every aspect of our lives.

Situation:  Jamie, a teenager, met Kirk, a man in his mid-fifties, through her mother.  Jamie and Kirk married and had a child, a girl.  At that time, Jamie had never attended any church or temple and, for all she knew, Kirk was not interested in religion.  After five years, Jamie and Kirk had another child, a boy.  Meanwhile, Jamie met her Christian neighbors and started going to their church with them.  This infuriated Kirk who told Jamie, "I forbid this!"  Jamie found out that Kirk was a secret member of a devil-worshipping society.

Lessons learned:  this is an extreme example of real people.  I've met plenty of women and men who attend church by themselves because their spouses 'don't believe.'  These women and men are very lonely in a very important part of their lives.  Is your religion very important to you?  Consider this carefully when choosing someone with whom you intend to spend the rest of your life.

Outcome:  Jamie soon feared for her life and the lives of her children.  One day, she locked herself in her bedroom with the children and called the police.  When they came, she climbed out her window with the children and the police took her to a safe place.  I saw her again when her boy was fifteen.  She had remarried and is still a member of the same Christian church.  We lost track of Kirk.  His business is no longer in central Kentucky.