by Michael Shepard

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: October 15, 2011

Being in a post-operative hospital bed experiencing intense pain is not the best time and place to be in deep contemplation of this question. Clearly God was not the one experiencing the waves of intense discomfort and anxiety of anticipated future pain with each breath.  And yet, mere acceptance of Divine Presence perhaps would have been enough of a calming effect to belay the anti-anxiety pill.

Every response to the question of Existence resulted in an increase of anxious feelings culminating in a wish to cling from the ceiling by finger and toe nails. A fight with the nurse ended with a promise of relief from distress in the form of a stomach-coating anti-anxiety pill. Thoughts of the God existence question continued in direct proportion to an increase in anxiety level. Eventually, pleas for relief came with acceptance, ingestion, and neurological assimilation of the pill. Cognitive thoughts of God's existence faded and blissful sleep ensued.

The important part of spiritual development occurred; not during contemplation of God's existence; but rather when the question (meditated upon at a later time) "What (assuming God exists) was he/she/it doing when Divine Existence was pondered?".

The responses were humbling, encouraging, and insightful to deepening of spiritual faith. They were on the order of; "Perhaps he was chuckling at the ludicrous arrogance of the questioner". And, "Possibly He was deciding about my own continued existence". And, lastly, and most importantly, "I sure am glad I am alive and my existence was not ended by brash questions regarding a Divine, eternal, and infinite Existence.

So, the question of God's existence is immaterial, pointless, and arrogant to entertain. Simple belief in Supernatural compassion is enough to heal the sick and reform evil. Thoughts of death; while uncomfortable, feared, strongly desiring avoidance and escape, and not pleasant; are necessary in gaining ones own awareness of the ephemeral nature of life and an individuals place within eternity.

Nice thoughts, kind acts, peace, serenity, happiness, peace, and maybe a good laugh; are proof enough of Divine existence. When death becomes "no big deal", courage to live righteously strengthens the believer. The question becomes laughable when enjoying a magnificently blossoming crab apple tree, the smell of freshly mowed grass, the taste of a fresh batch of spaghetti, the gift of a treat to a dog, or the song of a choir.  In some sublime and pastel manner, the arrogant question of whether God is or isn't; becomes ridiculously wasted breath.

The writer, Kurt Vonnegut said, "There is no surer proof of the Existence of God than the presence of music". This writer prays the reader finds God in his/her everyday life and never feels the need to question Divine Existence. A question never asked has no need of an answer.

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