As I was in line at the airport, I got talking to an older couple in front of me. Nobody has to ask me what I do, but the husband informed me that he too was an ordained minister. He was evidently not full time as he also taught at a technical college.
“Well, with what Church?” I asked, “The Lutherans? The United Church? The Presbyterians?” No, he was with – well, the name escapes me – something like the “North Hill Center for Spiritual Growth.” He read the bible and taught it but he didn’t want to be so close minded and also read texts from other religions so he could combine the good teachings of each. He wanted to integrate the Vedas and Buddhism with Christianity: a noble, but impossible, goal.
Finding common ground was evidently not going to be easy. Fortunately, after a few minor topics, he asked me, “Well, how do you do it? And why? I mean not too many people live like you do with their life dedicated to God and without a wife.”
Since he had read the Gospels I was able to speak about the woman with seven husbands in St Matthew after which Jesus says that in heaven there is no marriage or giving in marriage. “And why?” I queried, and then answered myself, “The way I see it is that we are all united so much with Christ there that an individualized relationship like marriage is not longer needed.”
“Following this, the Church has always seen religious life as a sign of heaven, a foretaste in this world of how we will all live with Christ in perfect union in heaven.”
“Now obviously it is hard,” I continued, “since the thought of having a beautiful wife and a few kids is obviously attractive. But I think God has shown me a better path and he continues to give me the strength to follow it.”
With notable surprise, he thanked me, “I had never heard that before. My wife had years of Catholic education and I don’t think she has ever heard it.” “No, I never did.” “I think that gives me new hope for you all.”
At that moment a flight agent was calling him up to the counter.
