Letter to an Atheist First Sergeant

1SG (First Sergeant),
One thing far more powerful than any argument I can muster for God and
Christianity is the example of ordinary people answering God's call to service.

Several Christians come to mind from past and present that (in my opinion)
make even the most skeptical people consider the possibility of a loving God.

Take, for instance, John Paul the II (now Saint John Paul the Great), who
was born into an unassuming Polish family in 1920. His mother died when he
was nine. His brother died a few years later when he was twelve. Shortly after
he turned 20, his father died of a heart attack.

In 1941 at the age of 20 he lost all the people he loved the most. He
grieved his losses like anyone would. But instead of despairing and losing
faith in God, he drew closer to God and deepened his faith.

On top of losing his family, the Nazis occupied his hometown that same year
and prohibited religious practice under penalty of death. Instead of
shrinking from persecution, he met it by secretly attending seminary at
night after his daytime jobs at a chemical factory and a lime quarry.

I don't know if this story blows your mind, but it blows mine. Here's a 20
year old kid risking everything (life included) just to become a priest
because he loved God and wanted to spread the Gospel. He had every reason to
be angry at the world, but he embraced his situation and, more importantly,
he embraced God. His motivation didn't come from wanting to seize
power--there wasn't any power to seize. He gave up his life to serve others
in love.

He later became Pope and stood down Communism during the Cold War and ministered Christ's love to the entire world
We now honor him in the Church as a Saint.
This is the first of many examples I'll be sharing with you for the rest of our lives--hope you're ready.