Corpse of steel

Does God exist?

John went up to his room. After thinking hard for a while,he went back downstairs with the letter in his hands.

"Mom! Mom!"

"What's the matter, dear?"

"I...I got something to show you" he stammered,his hands trembling as he handed over the letter.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to," he added, as though it were an afterthought.

His mom took the letter in unsteady hands. Puzzled, she looked at him, looked at the letter,then back at him. She opened the letter slowly and read it quietly. When she had finished reading it, she asked with a very quiet voice," What happened this time around?"

John opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by his mom. She gestured to the armchairs. They sat down and he narrated the entire incident to her.

"Now listen to me John. You are a very intelligent child and what you did today was right. But you lacked one thing.You know what that is?" He shook his head.

"That's wisdom" she continued.

"Wisdom would have guided you on how to go about it. It helps you avoid unnecessary trouble. King Solomon said in the Bible's book of Proverbs chapter three verse thirteen,'Happy is the man who finds wisdom'.

He also said in Proverbs chapter one verse seven,' The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.'

For you to have wisdom,which is the key to everyday happiness,you have to fear the Lord."

She talked on, continuing to advise him from the Bible. She rounded up by telling him to read the entire book of Proverbs.

"Thank you mum" he said as he stood up, still asking himself the one question he had always asked, "Does God exist?"

John had always struggled with religions and their beliefs. He wondered and marvelled at the thought of creationism. He really wanted to go with the scientist's idea that there was no God, but he didn't want to believe that he evolved from apes or originated from a big bang.

He wanted to believe that there's no God, but he couldn't explain how the earth or the things in it came about.

He really couldn't fathom how the earth came about. Everything has a creator, so the earth should too. Would that be God? If there was a God, why did he hide himself?

He pondered on these thoughts day and night. Science said God didn't exist but they couldn't prove creationism. Religion said God existed, yet everything sounded like a myth.

More than ever, he wondered if the world had an end. Surely, everything which began had an ending. He wondered what it would be like if the world came to an end. As a child born into a Christian home, he had heard tales of what the end of the world looked like.

He had heard tales of the afterlife. He wondered if they were all true.

Most times, the thoughts of heaven and hell being real scared him. Sometimes, he prayed, if there was a God, he'd be able to witness the end of the world before others did.

Deep in thought,he didn't hear his mom call.

"John! John! " Bridget called as she ran up to his room. She was almost out of breath by the time she opened the door to his room. She found him sitting on his bed,the Bible besides him. He folded his legs, rested his elbows on his legs and held his head in his palms. He was staring into space.

"Why are you sitting that way?" Bridget asked, obviously annoyed.

" Huh?... What did you say?" He asked distractedly.

" You didn't hear what I just said? What are you so busy thinking about?" his sister inquired.

.

" Nothing much... You said something" he replied, looking at her expectantly.

"Never mind. Mummy asked me to call you." Bridget said, walking out of the room, banging the door close after her.

"Wow! She's scary" he thought as he stood up.

When he went downstairs,he found his mom setting the table for lunch. He took out the plates, while she went into the kitchen to get the food.

As they worked, they discussed quietly. His mom was quite quiet and so she listened attentively to all he said. He told her stories of things that happened to him at school. He tried questioning her faith but she carefully avoided them. She gave him plain answers as to why she believed what she believed.

While they discussed, Mr Cyril Chukwu stepped in. He was a man with a heavy build. He stood at the door quietly listening to the conversation between his wife and son.

"Mum, do you really think God exists?" John asked. There was a nail-biting silence. After what seemed like an eternity, Mr Cyril spoke from behind.

"Well son. Of course God does exist" he said as he walked towards them.

"Welcome Dad", John greeted.

"Thanks son...I see your mum couldn't answer your question. I will do that after we've had lunch", Mr Cyril replied as he headed to his room.

"Well, I could have answered him" Mrs Chukwu finally spoke up.

" You are yet to greet me darling" Mr Cyril replied, turning around to face her.

"I'm so sorry love. I was dumbfounded. I wondered why someone would ask such a question. I mean, I didn't expect such a question,at least not from our son. He grew up attending church, Sunday school. We even teach him here at home every day and yet he still doubts the existence of God. I'm really surprised"

Bothered and disturbed about the sudden question of her son, she paced the room. What would make him doubt the existence of God? If there were no God, how come he could wake up each day? Didn't he think about that? A hand which touched her shoulder made her stop.

"It's okay dear. It really does happen. Don't forget I grew up in a Christian home too. Don't worry, I'd give him an answer after lunch" Mr Cyril replied and headed for his room.

After lunch,every one sat around the dining table. Bridget,in a bright pink dress,sat besides John who was putting on a navy green T-shirt over faded black jeans. They sat discussing quietly as Bridget enquired why she had to sit back after lunch. She had some maths assignment to complete but was eager to hear her dad's reply to John's question.

Their parents sat at the other end. Their dad after discussing for some time with mum, finally spoke up.

"Okay before I answer your John, Bridget,do you have any questions to ask too?"

" No dad, at least not yet" Bridget replied.

" Okay. That's it. John, you asked if God really exist right?" Mr Cyril asked his head c****d to the right,looking at John.

"Yes Dad,that was my question" John replied.

" Okay. Now for your answer, I'd like to tell you a story."