The Recruiter’s Visit

A quiet visit. A flood of belief. One soul listens, but doesn’t surrender.

My grandaunt wears her faith like armor.
Polished. Unbending.
You hear it in her voice before she even speaks�"
a clink of certainty echoing off the walls.
She offers it like a film she swears will change your life.
But not everyone watches with the same eyes.

That day, my father brought me to her
like a recruit led to a mission briefing.
She greeted me with conviction,
as if I were the seed
and she, the rain ready to pour.
I sat across from her,
already soaked before she began.

She spoke of salvation
like it was a currency
you earn through points and praise.
An award ceremony after death.
Rules, rituals, a checklist for the eternal.
I nodded,
not because I agreed,
but because silence is sometimes the softest form of respect.

She didn’t see my boundaries.
Only my potential to become like her.
But I’m not a vessel waiting to be filled.
I am already brimming
with questions,
with possibilities,
with truths that don’t fit inside a single book.

I don’t reject belief.
I walk beside it.
I let it speak.
I examine what it says.
Some days it makes sense,
and I carry it with me.
Other days it asks for things I cannot give.

She told me good deeds are rewarded.
That worship equals access.
That paradise has requirements.
But what kind of God builds fences around heaven
and guards them with doctrine?
Is kindness not enough?
Is love not holy on its own?

If I had opened my mouth,
if I had told her that I see God
not in the sky but in stillness,
not as a figure but as force,
not as judge but as presence�"
would I still be welcome at her table?
Would she still smile?
Would she still call me saved?

Author's Note

Thank you for reading. Not trying to tell here what is true or not. Just my truth.

Reviews

[Tom]

A powerful and profound poetic undertaking, yes, bare one's soul and say it as it is as here you convey similar thoughts and points of view as myself, we are all human beings with a conscious set apart from the fauna, flora that share this beautiful planet, we know right from wrong and religion is very much a manmade divisive, dissenting, subjective interpretation, I'm with you here.. God is Love..

' I don't think I need to be part of any religion to be spiritual. Spreading love is the key. As long as you
have a good moral and a sense of responsibility. '

Inspiring

[Mystical Ink]

Thank you for reviewing, Tom. I'm glad that there are people like you who fully understand and respect my perspective about this topic.

[Philip Gaber]

It brings up something I've always thought about. God must have an ego. How could you not know that you were the Creator of everything? I did that and that and that, oh, and I also created that, one of my parlor tricks, but thankfully, it came out alright. Keep asking the searching questions—they help entertain our minds. Well done!

[Mystical Ink]

Wondering about such profound topics not only stimulates our minds but also encourages deeper contemplation about the mysteries of existence. Your encouragement to keep asking these searching questions underscores the importance of curiosity and exploration in understanding our place in the universe.

[Philip Gaber]

Yes, absolutely!

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I don't preach or proselytize. But this is my testimony. I believe Jesus Christ is God. Not just a man but God in the flesh. Which is what the prophet Isaiah calls Him Immanuel, Literally, "God with us." Jesus clearly said of Himself, "I and my Father are One" and told Peter that if Peter had seen Him he had seen the Father. He told the scribes and Pharisees that all their books and scripture were nothing but testimonies of Him. He doesn't leave anyone the "option" of saying He was a prophet or a good man. Because nobody says the sort of things He said except a devil, which is what the Scribes and Pharisees claimed He was; a lunatic akin to someone claiming they are an eggplant or God in the flesh as all the apostles agree with His own testimony that He is, was and is to come, The Almighty God. John calls Him, "The Word" and so does Isaiah. But John says In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word WAS God and "we" (the apostles) have seen Him. And that the Word was made flesh and lived among them as a human being. His birth, history, death and resurrection testify to the fact along with the testimony of all the prophets and the disciples as well as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That is what I know to be the Truth and the One I know to be the Truth, the Way and the Life. This is my testimony as well because I am commanded to confess with my mouth the Truth by my faith. This is NOT a religion to me at all. In fact, I believe almost all organized religions of the world including those which claim to be "Christian" religions to be greatly in error. Many of them will tell you that the Bible is the Word of God. But it is NOT. The Word of God is God and was known to the apostles by the name of Jesus Christ. Not a religion but my Faith, my Hope, my Love and my Life.

[Mystical Ink]

That is very interesting, Fabian. We might not share the same belief about God but we do have one in common. That's our faith, hope, and love to who we believe our one and only creator. I thank you for sharing your testimony.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The Bible is merely a map to me. And a map is a useful tool, particularly to those who are lost. One might find a place, say, Hawaii, on a map, point at it and say, "There's Hawaii" But in fact it isn't Hawaii at all. It's just some dots and scribble representing the islands. It is not the same as actually being in Hawaii. And Christ said we must be in Him and He in us for our efforts to bear fruit. Just as you can't tell someone sitting in Hawaii that it's only some scribbles and dots on a page; the same applies to those in Christ. We are in Hawaii and not looking at representation of it on a "map". But the map bears witness of our location in spiritual longitude and latitude with such verses as: "Unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 Bless you and may your faith bring you to your destination safely and securely. I will add that God has no need of your money and you have no need of a teacher. We have one teacher, that is Christ and one Father, God which are the same. But He does all the work and directs our steps and there's not really anything we can "do" to please Him other than believe in His Truth. The prophet Jeremiah put it thusly in chapter 9 of that book: "This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,
nor the strong man in his strength,
nor the wealthy man in his riches.
But let him who boasts boast in this,
that he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD,
who exercises loving devotion,
justice and righteousness on the earth—
for I delight in these things, says the Lord.”

[Babbette Francis]

Its very important that you read your Bible when it comes to religion and what you should believe. Keep an open mind to the things you hear but compare it to what the Bible says about it. In the Bible Jesus says I am the way. No other gods can say that only Jesus. And that was a god-given right his his only son who is intern part of God himself like you are part of your father and part of your mother. Having Jesus is important. Putting him first is most important. That's in the Bible not just a belief. But your relationship with God or Jesus is very personal and should be protected. After all it's your soul. Only you can determine what eternity is going to be like. The Bible can help you get there. Good writing

[Mystical Ink]

Thank you for reviewing, Babbette. I appreciate your take on this.

[Chris Shaw]

I think you are wise. You are open minded and are prepared to listen,
and form an opinion of your own. There is nothing worse than being steamrollered into making important decisions before you have the facts. My Dad was a Catholic and my mother was Protestant. They respected each others views. We were allowed to decide for ourselves. I have to say I am not a fan of organised religion but I am a very spiritual person. Each to their own. I enjoyed the read. Thank you.

[Mystical Ink]

I also see my self as spiritual as I grow. I developed my own practices, also not into a specific religion. I hope that all parents are like yours. I hope that we all get to choose because it's our rights. Thank you for your kind words, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

You are very welcome. Choice is so important .

[Pete]

i think religion/faith is a personal/private individual thing and we should respect a boundary regarding it and not cross it. you obviously have thought about your beliefs and guard them closely (as well you should) while keeping an open mind and i think that is commendable ... :)

[Mystical Ink]

I appreciate your insights, Pete. You are right, we shouldn't cross each other's boundaries. The message I want to deliver here is to respect each other's belief as there is no right or wrong belief, and as long as you're doing what feels right for you.

[Ballpark Frank]

You make valid points in an extremely important topic. I'm impressed by how well you've delved into this dicey topic.

[Mystical Ink]

It really is dicey. I have this courage to write about this certain topic because I know that I have the ability to understand and respect each opinions and I don't care about the judgements. People will only get offended if their minds are closed. Thank you for reviewing, Frankie.

[Ballpark Frank]

I have my beliefs too. And, my beliefs have changed or adjusted several times so I get the problem.