The inner Spritual Battle I was unaware of

I had lunch with my friend Louie on Wednesday. Now, mine and Louie's friendship has been very important to me during the past four years. After all, he has seen me through very hard times in my life, like facing my parents divorce, as well as I helping him thru losing his mom to Breast Cancer. Our relationship has survived all of these struggles and I have never doubted our ability to connect to one another in very special ways

...That was until Wednesday.

We were both driving home from lunch and the subject of partying with some mutual friends came up. I said that I don't really "party" much anymore with that group of people and heard the response I never thought I would hear from Louie...

He told me, "Oh, I forgot, your a RELIGIOUS girl now".

The tone used by him came to me as a shock, and I said "You say that like it is a bad thing."

Silence.

After one of the most awkward moments I have had with him in my life, I asked him "What are you thinking right now?". And there it began.

A conversation about his confusion about why I would believe in A God whom I have never seen, A Jesus who Healed People, Died for My Sins, and Rose from The Dead, A Heaven that I have no proof exists, and a Bible whose pages were written by men, filled our surroundings.
I let him ask his questions and tried my best to answer him but an all too familiar quote sadly proved true...
"It is sometimes easier to share The Word of God with strangers, than those whom we love."

Although I tried to share my Love for God with him, the hurt in his voice became more and more noticeable. Then he showed me the root of where we his doubt started as he said, "I don't believe in God who loves me because I prayed SO hard for him not to take my mom and he did it anyways. What kind of God takes the only parent I had left? Not a God who loves me!"

It all became relevant but a little to late. We had arrived to our destination and our time together had come to an end. I asked if he would come to a "college group" gathering with me, since it is a much more comfortable environment than church, and he said "maybe". I took that answer and said my goodbye. I drove home with tears coming down my face. The friend whom I thought I had known so well was going thru a personal spiritual battle that I was unaware of.

What a reality check.

Sometimes I am so consumed about helping complete strangers that I sometimes over look the ones I love. I pray that Louie will open his eyes and see God's Love and Compassion for him and he would come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I hope to be in Paradise with all of those I love including him...

including him.