As the time passes in my stream of life on this side of heaven there are fewer and fewer responsibilities which I take upon myself. One of those responsibilities is the care and nurture of my two grandchildren. One is very close and I help teach lessons of life and nature. The other is across the country and I have little or no control to guide. I trust his parents to do their due diligences for my little one’s little one. Joe has expressed a interest in things spiritual like the Bible and church. His mother has taken my little man to church and I am overjoyed at the prospect of new understanding and burgeoning faith.

But there is a problem. My daughter-in-law disagrees with one of the teaching and seems to want to sever the church relationship. This is a letter I sent to her that both time and wisdom has impressed upon me.

“Dear daughter:

After much thought and personal study, I wish to address your concern about a specific teaching at the church you have attended. You point out a difference of belief between yourself and the church.  First there is no perfect church if they let people in the door.  Each has their own ideas, beliefs, rules, precepts, regulations, commands, and even prohibitions. But in reality they are just but small things compared the ultimate lessons of Love and acceptance.  There is no perfect theology (the study of God), each church creates a code of theology and try to hold it up as the best one.  But there is no such thing.  We are all just people with our own windows into heaven.  Do not give into the tyranny of stated do’s and don’ts.  Look for the best and you will find it.  Look for the little things that may separate you and you will also find them. 

Please don’t give in to the Nirvana point of view.  That view says, “I will not go to any church as long as it does not conform perfectly with my point of view.”  The Nirvana point of view would say, “seat belts do not save everyone in a crash, there for I will never wear my seat belt.”  Perfection will always get in the way of the good.  Don’t say to Joey or to yourself, “If it is not perfect, I am not going to do it at all.”  The Church will never be perfect as long as its measuring stick is doing, it must be about being. And the greatest part of being is Love.”