Lena, God and Universe

As I read of my sister and nephew’s recent encounter with Buddhism, I was reminded of this recent conversation I had with my 17 year old daughter, Lena.

Me: Get up Lena
Lena: (silence)
Five minutes later.
Me: Get up Lena
Lena: (silence)
Five minutes later.
Me: Get up Lena
Lena: (steady breathing – nice sleeping noises)
Me: We’re going to be late for church if you don’t get up.
Lena: I don’t want to go to church.
Me: I didn’t really ask if you wanted to go to church.
Lena: Why should I have to go to church?
Me: Because it’s good for you. In fact it’s good for the family. In fact it’s good for the whole world.
Lena: You don’t even know what I believe. You’ve never asked me what I believe.
Me: OK – What do you believe? (I’m such a sucker.)
Lena: Well – I’m not sure. But it’s not that! Church makes no sense.
Me: Especially when it cuts into your sleep time.
Lena: I shouldn’t have to go to church. It should be a choice.
Me: Soon enough it will be a choice. And I’m sure you will spend most of your twenty’s avoiding it like the plague - like we all did. Unless you start dating some cute, nice boy that attends church religiously – no pun intended – in which case you’ll find God most illuminating. Now, please get up and get ready for church.
Lena: If you make me go I’ll hate church forever and never go as an adult.
Me: Everyone questions their faith periodically - and usually in their teens and twenty’s.
Lena: Well the whole God and Jesus thing just doesn’t make sense. And even if I believed in that I don’t see why I would have to go to church. I can not go to church and still pray.
Me: I’m confused. What was your point again? You want to sleep more? Is that the basic premise we’re working from?
Lena: No. I just don’t know what I believe and church doesn’t make sense. So it’s not for me.
Me: What makes more sense?
Lena: Evolution – The Big Bang.
Me: I agree - that does make sense. But I don’t think that eliminates God. What about before that?
Lena: Before what?
Me: Before the Big Bang.
Lena: I don’t know!
Me: Exactly. Me neither. So there – I run rings round’ you logically.
Lena: What?
Me: Never mind – just one of my favorite lines ever. Anyway, when I was near your age I remember a walk in the woods in Waters, Michigan with your Grandpa Zimmerman where I was sharing some of these same thoughts. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but here are some of the things I took from it. No matter what you believe, you’ll have to believe in something. And that means faith. And things come from somewhere. I don’t know where, and our puny brains can’t expand past the concepts of life, love, universe, time being relative, and why Paris Hilton is famous. But once you come around to figuring out you need to believe in something, then Jesus, the bible and church looks pretty good. There’s lots of stuff there that reinforces the things I believe: people are basically good but imperfect; be nice; forgive; take care of the people you love; don’t steal; don’t lie; use nice language; don’t covet your neighbors stuff – you know, wife, pets, snow blower. You follow?
Lena: I believe that stuff, too. But I don’t see why I would have to go to church to believe that stuff.
Me: That is actually a pretty good point. When we miss church, we don’t lose our values. Hopefully. But why do you think you believe that stuff in the first place?
Lena: I learned that stuff from you – and from mom.
Me: Where do you think we got it?
Lena: Your parents.
Me: Ah, you know your grandparents. And where do you suppose they got their values?
Lena: Their parents?
Me: Have you ever heard about Fati (sp - Vater?)? Anyway, where do you think they got their beliefs?
Lena: You’re going to keep doing this until I say church or we get back to the big bang or something aren’t you.
Me: I was planning on stopping around the 18^th century with inaccurate references to our puritan and tyrannical forefathers. And, you know, like, the Spanish inquisition is not a stellar period for Christianity either. Have you read the Three Musketeers? All these things are great ammunition for your premise about church not representing what you believe. But I’m getting off point here.
Lena: So do I have to go to church?
Me: Yep. It’s either that or you have to listen to me go on with my erroneous views of history, the church and our ancestry.
Lena: I’m going I’m going!
Me: I knew you’d see it my way.

This is not an exact recounting - but close enough for my blog. Along the same lines as this topic, and for my sister’s benefit, I think I may have gotten fired from both Sunday school teaching and the confirmation group, too. No idea why. For that reference you’ll have to visit www.theselfrighteoushousewife.blogspot.com