This is a story about something that happened to me at work a few days ago.
So that morning when getting ready for work, I woke up earlier than usual so I had a little time to burn. I checked the blog. Checked Facebook, made a few comments, and watched a few YouTube vids. Then headed off to work. It was really a very normal day.
Less than an hour after I arrived one of my co-workers who sits only a few cubicles from me named Mike rolled his chair over to me very discreetly and said….. “I didn’t know you were an atheist.”
In shock I don’t even remember what I said, but it was probably along the lines of… “Ah, huh, What?!?!?!?”
Mike had gone onto Facebook and noticed I had made a comment onto a blog page between atheist & theist. The blog page had asked people to respond to what is their religious or non-religious belief. And how long have they been that way. I responded of course….Atheist, 1 Year…
(It was funny, because the majority of atheist who responded to the post said they have been an atheist all their life. I was the only that said anything under 3 years.)
The only thing I remember mustering out of my mouth was, “I didn’t mean to leave that up. I’m gonna take that down.”
“Yeah you might want to do that.” Replied Mike
I was wide eyed at that moment, because Mike had now discovered my secret. Yeah I have told a few people, but I am not totally out of the atheist closet. Another reason for alarm and anxiety at that moment was because Mike and I knew some of the same Christian Folk. Mike goes to church on a very regular basis. At least twice a week. His son is an up and coming youth minister. That is married to the pastor’s daughter. We both know some of the same people in this area that work in Ministry. Mike has seen me read my bible at work and talk about ministry, god, and Jesus. We have both engaged into these type of discussions.
Then came the reply that really blew me away….. “It’s okay, I am too.” He said very discreetly. “It just never really makes no logical sense.”
I went from a moment of anxiety and sweat, to a smile on my face. (But of course, that was after I took down the post comment)
I told him nobody really knows except for a few people. Not even SLY knows. “Oh, yeah. You better take it down before he sees it. You need to do that.” Replied Mike. SLY is a co-worker of ours and a longtime friend of mine that I have known since college and getting saved. He is a 5-Point Presuppositionalist Presbyterian Reformed Calvinist. A.K.A…. He is not afraid to be confrontational to express his views of a Biblical Worldview. I made sure to take it down before he saw it. I do want to tell SLY one day, but not while we still work at the same job. That would cause to much controversy and debating for a professional work environment.
All in All, It was refreshing to know there is fellow non-believer sitting a few seats from me.
After I took down the post and calmed down, I asked Mike if he doesn’t believe any of it, why does he go to church so much on a regular basis. He answered. “My Son, it saved his life. I don’t see nothing wrong with it, if it makes you a better person.”