Good Evening.

Thank you for being with us today.

My name is Christian.

I would like to share this afternoon what was for me the definite moment when I knew that God exists and also that God is watching.

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans."  Says Woody Allen. And this is the perfect quote to start with...

I was born and raised in a Catholic home, although going to church every Sunday was not the norm. I remember that my grandmother was the one who always wanted us to try at least going for Easter and Christmas. But even despite her best efforts, my mom and dad took a different stance... I guess they want me to figure out the whole cosmic-greater-than-you-might-think-God for myself.

It didn't work...

Years passed and I became completely sure that I was completely an agnostic. Just flesh and bones waiting for the next step. No Church. No Angeles. No Bible.

And I was pretty satisfied and happy been a self-proclaimed agnostic. But, of course what does a teenage boy know about the important things in life, especially spiritual stuff, and at that moment my mom did the obvious best thing to do. She got me into a Catholic school.

I was not a happy camper.

And for three years between attending Calculus and English, there were Theology classes. I grew angrier; more disappointed about church and with many more questions about the nature of God, the nature of church, and the relationship with us - the human race, especially me.

So, one day I reached the bottom. I could not stand this situation anymore. I was really angry and confused. I wanted answers. I wanted facts. I wanted evidence.

That morning when I was walking to school, I raised my internal voice and I said... "You do not exist. You are just an invention of men. I don't believe in you... And with all your power and omnipresence you are not going to stop me from doing this..." 

And then it happened.

I reach into my pocket. I grabbed a package of candies. There were three candies left. And I continued... "You are not going to stop me from enjoying this candy." I grabbed the first one, and when I unwrapped it, it fell.

Quickly I grabbed the second one. And I said "This is not happening, it was an accident... You, invention of men." This time I unwrapped the second candy, and holding it between my fingers, it slipped.

I stopped for one second, in shock. This was my chance. This was a conversation. My revelation.

And standing there by myself I grabbed the last candy. I unwrapped it very carefully, and I put it in my mouth. And in my internal voice I said "I knew it"... I started walking again. With the first step, I tripped. And the candy went out of my mouth in a perfect parabola.

HE was laughing. I was speechless. I felt humble. I started walking again and I never looked back.

Maybe it's silly. Maybe it's too simple. But that morning all my doubts, all my questions about God disappeared. Like those three candies lying on the sidewalk, as an innocent proof of what really takes to rumble a young soul. No open waters. Moving mountains or new universes.

Years later, I met my wife. She told me her dad was an Episcopal priest and she made it clear that religion was something important for her and her family. Months later when we decided get married, both agreed that getting married in a church was important for us and for our families. We found St. Thomas' Parish in early spring of 2008. In our second visit, we attended a Taize service; it was my first time. Later that day I knew as I knew that morning that I had found a very special place.