I am a peaceful kind of girl. I live by the rule: Live and let live.

But I do have strong opinions especially if other people try to tell me what to think and do.

I am not a religious kind of girl either. I believe in something, I am Catholic by baptism and I grew up that way, never heavily encouraged nor that interested once I became a teenager. That’s when I started being opinionated and developed quite a dislike to the Church in fact as it has lots of money, and even when I was a small child they try to make you collect your little pocket money for poor people. Well I am sure my 10 Pfennig every week really helped, but why doesn’t the Vatican use some of their riches instead of taking it from a little girl?

This however has nothing to do with belief and God, certainly not in my eyes. Just because I have a mind of my own, and criticise some Church practice (not agreeing with their “no contraception” policy esp. in poor developing countries, for example), doesn’t mean I don’t believe in God, or call it a Spirit, higher force, whatever. I am fairly well educated with a degree and all, so yes I do believe in science and evolution, but again that has nothing to do with my believe that there is some power that was before anything else that is in everything from a beautiful flower, a baby to my rather cute puppy.

Some people try to explain love and kindness with science I am sure, I don’t know how, I know I wouldn’t believe it.

Some people believe in following religious rules, by whichever faith they count themselves part of, to the letter. Ok, let them, as long as they don’t try to impose their believes onto me, call me names or a non-believer in the process.

Some people don’t believe at all. Atheists. Fair enough I say, that’s up to each individual what they want to believe or not. They don’t believe in God, they believe in something else, science usually, or idols, from comedians to radical atheists.

What bothers me greatly, and it doesn’t matter which of these different groups someone belongs to, is when they try to tell me I am wrong in what I believe. Funny enough, I’ve never had any strong believer of a faith do this to me, it’s so far always been the atheists.

If you end up in a conversation where you happen to mention that you believe in something, they look at you like you need a straightjacket or something. Surely you are joking? Well read this book and you will change your mind! Or they try to argue … for hours, tell you how you are wrong and ridiculous.

I find it quite peculiar that people who don’t believe are so keen to convert you to become a non-believer.

What would I have to gain from that though? I am happy believing, be it right or wrong to do so.

Surely, if I can find it in my heart to accept anyone believing or not believing what they want, they should be able to show me the same courtesy.

Kind regards

Bisa

JUST A DOG

From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,”
or “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.”

They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent,
or the costs involved for “just a dog.”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.”

Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,”
but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought aobut by
“just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch
of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you probably understand
phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”

“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy.
“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience
that make me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look
longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog”
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts
away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that its’ not “just a dog”
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
“just a man” or “just a woman.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog,”
just smile,
because they “just don’t understand.”

~Unknown Author~