I remember as a child, different religious people coming to our door, knocking and preaching, and then the anger it would set off in my parents. Not because they were atheists or anti-religion, but because they saw these people as an invasion of their privacy, and an interruption in their day. The end result was normally raised voices, and a demand to leave the property.

When I was living on my own, and these folks came to my door, I would encourage them to share with me what they believed to be their truth. After one or two visits and no arguing, I would not see them again. At one function I attended some years ago, I found myself in conversation with one of the men who used to knock on my door.

I asked why he did not visit any more with his friends? I was curious both about what more they would tell me, and also why they stopped trying to convert me. This man told me they thought I was a minister of some kind, and there was no sense trying to convert me.

I thought that was funny, because a minister was the last thing I would have considered myself to be! After a while they all quit coming around to try to convert me, and I forgot about them. Some time later, I moved to a bigger city, and there the process started all over again. The outcome was about the same, except after listening to the many different versions of what they had to say, some of them would ask me what I thought?

This was my opportunity to explain what I have learned over the years to them. The sum of what I learned from my own reading, talking, and some television programs has taught me a lot. I shared with them those things I found to be common in everything they had told me over the years plus what I learned on my own.

Each group has a slightly different version of how this all came about. None of us here today really knows what the true story is, or even if any what we believe is true, or made up. I was not there, and you were not there, so we can only speculate on what is the truth. Thankfully it does not matter.

If you imagine a special present, it is easier to explain. As I remove the bow, the ribbons, and wrapping from the package and open the box, I see the fundamentals we all share. When I look closely, some basic truths becomes evident.

We are all one family.

None of us has a monopoly the truth.

It is our responsibility to live the best life we can.

We should try to love and be good to one another.

We should do our best to treat each other with respect.

We all come from the same place. Not one of us on earth comes from somewhere else.

That is all there is to living well, everything else is fluff.

Some of these people, after hearing me did not know what to say. One of them decided they would be sending an Elder to speak to me as I was obviously confused, thinking this way. Others have put up futile reply’s, but quit part way through when they realize there is no real argument. I usually never see them anymore, as there is nothing for them to argue over, and no one to convince.

It is much easier to keep it simple, as simple allows for more agreement, and less argument. If there is nothing to argue over, then these folks have nothing to discuss. Take away the argument, and you take away the wind in the sails. Happy sailing!

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