Blessed by the Creator

Of the manifold gifts that my father gave to me,
  one that grows in significance as years pass
  is best described through a little story.

Around age 15, and in the full throes of
  differentiating my self from my parents,
  I threw out my chest and found my strongest voice.

Then, I marched up to my father,
  that gentle, wise, compassionate man.

Before I could be melted by his loving eyes,
  I boldly, and probably somewhat awkwardly,
  declared, 'I don't believe in God!'

Holding my breath and readying for a parlay,
  I awaited my father's response.
  He looked at me in one long moment.

Then, he smiled and said, 'OK.'
  That was it?!  Stunned, I turned to retreat.
  'OK?  OK???  OK???'

I had just denounced the single most important thing
  in my father's life, and all he said was, 'OK???'
  I don't remember how long it took me to recover
  from this most unexpected act of my sage/father.

But, keeping to form was critical at that stage of my development,
  so I regrouped and initiated a series of assaults on what
  I considered to be the fallibilities of religion and faith and God.

At every turn, my father listened carefully and responded with
  compassion, wisdom and love...and no small amount of patience!
  Through this journey, I learned so many things and traveled so far.

The lessons from this sojourn with my father some 40 years-ago
  stay with me today, shape my perspectives, fortify me with hope,
  and remind me that it is okay to question and challenge.

For, through that questioning and challenging,
  we delve into our souls to find the answers therein, to find God therein.
  All our lives, at any moment, this gift is ours to open.

And, it is given us with compassion, wisdom, love
  and all the patience in the universe.
  For our growth into self is a sacred journey,

one that is blessed by the Creator of all.