the top ten things i learned in ghana - 3

faith, in reality, is a choice

One of the men of the company my friends and I made our documentary for is one of the most kind and generous people that I have ever met.  I've never been received with such wonderful hospitality and grace.  The thing that amazes me the most is his determination and will power to take on such the large project he has: to stabilize the rice markets of an entire country.  


Taking people out of their underprivileged and poverty stricken state to empower them to become something better.


Hats off to you, my friend.


One night while we were waiting for our dinner to cook, he asked me and my friends some really excellent questions about what Mormons believe.  Being all of us (conveniently in this situation) Mormons, we were happy to do our best to respond to his inquiries.


If I understood correctly (and please forgive me if I didn't) he struggled with the idea of believing in God for a few reasons.  One that stuck out to me was because of the injustice that he saw all around him.


How can a God who is just allow me to be born in a blessed and beautiful place with health, sanitation, opportunity, and clean water while at the same time allow for others to be born in sickness and deprivation?


Frankly, I didn't know how to answer him.


In that moment I had flash back of when I saw the news footage for the earth quake in Japan on March 11, 2011.  I, a missionary, a faith centered and based person, was seriously stirred.  Horrified, I couldn't help but question God's logic or meaning.  


The only thing that gave me hope was that I know that Christ can fix it.  


All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. (Preach My Gospel, pg 52)


Another doubt he had was the lack of proof.  


Science yes, can be proven, but religion?  God?  It's un-provable.


And anyone who is honest with themselves will have to agree (unless of course they have seen Him with their own eyes).  Proof in the scientific sense of the word? I have none.  


But peace? Yes. Peace. That I have.  


I can never prove to anyone the harmony I feel when I pray.  It's indescribable.  I've never seen a light, yet I've felt it.  Like the same way you can just feel someone watching you.  


But for those who don't believe, I'd ask you to prove it.  Show me the hole in the universe where God "should be" but isn't.  


Show me that and I'll believe you.


But you can't, just as I can't.


And thus the conclusion is this: that faith, in reality, is a choice.  


Do I want to believe in something higher or not?


Me? Yes, I do.