The Catholic & The Aethist: July 4th came & went and here we are

As some of you might know, I was scheduled to get married
on July 4th, 2006 to an aethist.

Perhaps it was because God intervened. Some might say that
it was because there is no God.

Whatever the case, the wedding is off. The guests have been informed. & he and I are trying to figure out if there is a future for us.

At one point while the wedding was still on, I remember him
asking me if I would ever consider becoming and atheist and
giving up my faith.

The answer before me was clear:
No.

Could I be wrong?
Perhaps.

I am humble enough to accept that we human beings can
only access 20% of our brain....

(& knowing that I wonder, how could anyone ever presume
to fully understand the tremendous mystery of the universe
or God?)

Of course I realize that I might be wrong.

But, I can not deny what is inside of me. I was born with
faith. I believe.

I can not be an aethist. It's just not me.

I'm clear that there is something that exists that is bigger than
each of us individually. My faith is at the core of me & though I
have no proof, I believe. To pretend otherwise, even for love,
would be wrong. To do so would mean to lie, to turn my back
on that gift of faith and in truth to turn my back on me.

So, I remain a Christian and he an aethist; and our journey
together or apart from here on in is still TBD.

He worries about the kids and how we would raise them.

I wonder if he will be grounded enough if we are dealt a difficult
hand in life.

& while I see our difference in faith, as just another difference
to add to the mix (he being a Boston Brahmin- descendant
from the Mayflower, I a first generation American- descendend
from new immigrants; he being white, I being brown; he being
of means, I being working class; he being careful, I being a risk
taker; he being male, I being female...)

Some around us worry it might be a deal breaker.

& I suppose that a part of me wonders if they might be right...
& whether I am being too idealistic...
& of course there is a part of me that would love for him to
find God and embrace spirituality, and believe in something
beyond this temporal human existance...

But, I believe that faith is a blessing, given, not imposed.
And while I pray that someday perhaps he will find the grace of
God, for me it is enough that our values are the same and that
we both desire to be stewards of this world and make it a better
place, not only for ourselves but also for the least of these.

& so ends the story of the Atheist and the Catholic.
For now.
Wish us luck/say a little prayer for us.
=-)
I promise to keep you posted.