"Lester, God told you to call!"

I have been inspired by two events in the last couple of days that has helped me formulate a substitute for people when they begin to doubt the existence of a supreme being.

The first comes from Pliny the Elder, a Roman writer who was also a military man. He was born during the period that Christians claim was Jesus lifetime, and died in the eruptions of Vesuvius at the age of 56. He wrote:

"For mortal to aid mortal--this is God."

By itself, this quote would not have inspired me to write about it in my blog, but coupled with a phone call last night, this was very powerful. You see, last night I called my very dear friend in Naples to wish him a Merry Christmas. His name is Harry, and quite honestly I can attribute almost everything I enjoy in my current life as a gay man to what I learned from him after he took me in during my first several months after coming out in January 2005. While on the phone with Harry, he said:

"God told you to call, Lester. I've been very lonely lately."

For four months in early 2005, Harry was the "god" that I needed. On numerous occasions since then, I have been the "god" that Harry needed.

A humanist understands this duty with every breath that he takes, and assumes that obligation with all the religious fervor than an evangelical claims for Jesus.

A humanist likewise recognizes the "godlike" attributes in others who have been placed in a position to help him at critical junctures in his life.