In one of my favorite “Calvin and Hobbes” comic strips, Calvin trudges through the freshly fallen snow arriving at a clearing in the woods. After observing his surroundings, he looks up at his tiger friend and says, “It’s a magical world, Ol Hobbes.” We Christians often debate with our atheist brothers over the existence of God, often resorting to complex theories. Sometimes, however, we should refrain from arguing and stop and take a stroll through the woods on a nice, snowy day. Instead of beating atheists over the head about religion, we Christians should expose them to the “magic” of God’s creation, and let God do the rest.
Atheists and Christians experience the world differently because they are at different starting points. To put it another way, believers and non-believers have different colored sun glasses that affect everything they view. A believer and a non-believer can gaze up at the stars and see very different things. The Christian may say, “Those are God’s stars!” The atheist may say, “There is nothing but matter here. We are just one insignificant spec in a million!” For this reason it is very hard for an atheist to believe.
As a former Doubting Thomas I can relate to their struggle to understand the Christian perspective. For years as a child I would come to church on Sunday. Yet, the experience was cold. I could see God nowhere. The picture of Jesus hanging on the wall seemed so flat and lifeless. I could not understand why all these grown-ups were singing praises to something that clearly did not exist. I secretly wished for some supernatural intervention that would show me that he existed. Despite my skepticism, I wanted to believe.
Then one day I felt this odd urging to make a card for someone. So I drew a card and gave it to an elderly friend of mine at church. At that moment a broad smile flashed across his face. Suddenly I saw God. Ever since then my perception of the world has changed. On that day I discovered the magic of God, the magic of love. I could see God in the beauty of nature, in twinkle of an eye, the passion of a dancer, or a poem.
It doesn’t take a Christian to see these things. Ironically, some of the most moving depictions of love and kindness come from non-believers. David Hume, the great atheist, in his Enquires, spent an entire chapter debunking miracles. Yet, in a section on benevolence he likened cheerfulness to a flame: “The flame spreads through the whole circle; and the most sullen and morose are caught by it.” This description is almost spiritual. Although Hume rejected God, he was thinking like a believer.
The atheists are not the only ones who struggle to believe. In the face of widespread suffering, personal hardships, and evil, Christians are tested too. Yet, once again it is the little things that remind us of God’s love. For me the beauty of a sunset always takes my breath away. Another thing that cheers me up when I am down is laughter. When I am depressed there is nothing better than a good joke to lift my spirits.
I like to think of God as like a light shining through a prism. The first challenge is to see the reflections or the visible manifestations of His love. Through that we may see the source. This requires that we have a childish wonder about the world. Here is where atheists and Christian believers can find some common ground. Both can look up at the sky at night and say, “We may disagree, but boy, those are beautiful stars tonight.” If we can, like Calvin, see the beauty and magic in everyday life, maybe we can look beyond the differences that divide us.
