Vidya Murlidhar:
I’ve always been curious to know how the seeds of faith are planted in us all. Are we all born as believers or non-believers or is it entirely conditioning and culture? So, when I came across a short story by Andy Weir called “The Egg,” which so cleverly conveys the author’s thoughts on God, I shared it with my students and asked them to write about a conversation they would have with God, if they had a chance to meet Him or Her.
In their minds, who was God and how much power did He/She wield? What were some of their pressing questions they would ask the divine figure? The kids came up with very interesting stories. Here is one story by Namish Mayank that was born out of that writing session.
A Conversation with God
I had never met someone so religious before. He wasn’t like any other kid, or for that matter, a human, who prayed daily. Instead, he prayed once a month, only chanting the sentence, “Please God, let me talk to you. Please God, let me talk to you.”
I had been watching him for quite some time now. He never missed his praying date, the 22nd of the month. He would sit in front of a picture of me (which, by the way, looks ugly, although I still appreciate the gesture) and chant his sentences.
What could this boy possibly want to get from me? Advice? Knowledge? A PS5? But one day, I decided to find out for myself. I went to his house and flew into the roof to where the boy was sitting.
“God, is that you? Have you come to answer my wishes?”
Just the look on his face, and the tone of his voice made me burst out laughing. “Well, it depends on how you see me. I could just be a ghost of the person who died here.”
The boy looked at me, concerned. “WAIT WHAT?” he cried, in surprise.
Ehh, it’s funny to see that expression.
“Are you trying to make yourself sound cool?” asked the boy. There was no point in laughing or lying.
“Kinda. Anyways, you wanted to talk to me? Make it quick. I have a meeting with Hercules and Hades in 5 minutes.”
“Ok, well, um, I had a list. It’s somewhere over here. Ah yes, I found it.”
I sat down, in my ready position to think.
“First question, what is the meaning of life?”
I knew that this one would be on the list. “Couldn’t you have just googled the answer or something? I am sure that they probably have a much more derailed response than what I have to say.”
“God, I wanted an honest response from you. And besides, how do you know what Google is? Ok well, never mind that, tell me your answer.”
I chuckled. I liked this kid. “It simply means to just live. I am pretty sure that is also what Google would have said too.”
“Ok, the. Next question. Are you real?”
Oh well that was really offensive, but I had a comeback for him. “Tell me, are you real? Is your dog real?” I replied back.
The kid just stared at me in awe. “I have one more question. Then you can go do whatever stuff that Gods do. Do you have any advice for me?”
Finally! The golden question. “Well, one piece of advice is that you can trash that picture of me,” I said, pointing to the wall. “Also, keep on praying, stop putting toothpaste in your brother’s shoes, be kind. Look, bud, I have a whole entire list, but Hades gets really mad if people are late, so I gotta get going.” I snapped my fingers and disappeared. I really didn’t, I was just invisible.
The child ran to the kitchen, where his mother was, yelling “Mom, mom! I just talked to God! I am telling you the truth!”
His mother nodded, “That’s wonderful dear! Go walk your dog.”