Searching for Truth in the Oddest Places

As Catholics we believe that Truth is a 'Who,' not a 'what.' Through a series of events I was led to read a the writings on an atheist website called "Why Won't God Heal Amputees?" It is a question I have heard before. Now before I jumped in there to start firing off dumb replies, I read for awhile to see if my points had already been made, and what points other Catholics had already made. Two words: dismal failure. Catholics were trying to make the same old tired arguments. The author(s) of the site already had their commentary shooting down the theory of Intelligent Design, at the ready. I stopped to pray to wonder how these people were going to proven wrong, and if so, what was my part in it? I got one very clear answer: NOT. MY. JOB.

My job is not to be understood, but to seek to understand. Those words of St. Francis rang in my head again. The people at that site do hold some truth. If they didn't, they would cease to exist! My job is to find the Person of Truth everywhere. My job is seek out Christ in every person and every situation. My job isn't to change minds. My job IS to seek humility and deeper understanding of my fellow man.

How am I to be the face of Christ if I don't know what He looks like through the fog? I have to know the face of Christ better than my own if I am to show Him to the world. I asked myself, "Could I describe myself to a sketch artist?" My answer is a resounding "NO!" I have no idea what I really look like, only my perception of myself. So too, is my understanding of the face of Christ. I cannot describe Him well enough yet.

So I will continue to read what my fellow man has to say about the non-existence of God. I will read it with the continued belief that these people are wonderful creations of God and worthy of my respect and understanding.

But of course I couldn't finish this blog post without answering the question here, "Why won't God heal amputees?" I answer this question the same way Forest Gump answers the question,"Have you found Jesus?"
He answers, "I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for Him!"

Why won't God heal amputees? I thought He already did. I might have missed the memo that says amputees continue to gush blood for the rest of their lives, but I think they actually mean, "Why won't God regrow the limb?" My answer is: "Because they don't need it." If they actually NEEDED that limb, they would die without it. For me the question falls under the, "why do we have two arms and not four?" and the "Why do we have appendices?" categories. Why does that amputee need that limb back?

The atheists on the the site go into great detail of the inefficiency of the design of the human body. (That is their commentary shooting down intelligent design that I referenced earlier.) Again, I have heard it all before, "What Intelligent Designer would put a waste management facility so close to an amusement park?" (For those who miss the joke it is a reference to the close proximity of anus and the sexual organs.) They say the design is bad. They actually believe the design is bad. I simply disagree. The design works quite nicely. It is just how you look at it.

I tell my children when they are only using one hand to pick their toys up, "God gave you two hands for a reason. Use them both!" When I was in college I asked a friend who was born with only one hand, "How do you tie your shoes?" and "How do you button your shirt with only one hand?" His answers? "Very carefully. Wanna see?" and "How do you button your shirt with two?" We started dating shortly afterward. I learned a lot about God by knowing that atheist.

So, what is in the atheist message that I need to learn? I think there are many things. But I think the most important is to better understand what Christ looks like in everyone.