I cannot force anyone to believe anything. No matter how powerful my own belief, I cannot coerce you into sharing it. I know, you can pretend, but later, your skepticism will shine through your gauzy cover story; your lief will prove unsustainable.

What does it take for me to believe? Not much. I acknowledge that I mostly believe what I need to believe. My psyche looks like a pile of pick-up sticks, with twigs supporting odd-angled twigs, little logical design supporting anything. I hold no special charter on anyone’s truth, including my own.

I choose to believe that this fundamental distinction keeps me safe. I try not to mistake my satisfying firm beliefs for truths, and I feel sad when others seem to mistake their beliefs for truths. No, this conviction does not render me cynical, only mindful, reflective.

I believe I’m better off when I’m believing in something; anything. The alternatives hollow me out. I try not to evangelize. My salvation isn’t anybody else’s. Believe whatever you choose, or whatever seems to choose you. Some God’ll probably bless you for it.

©2013 by David A. Schmaltz - all rights reserved

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