White Bear Man

 My 10 year old daughter and I hesitated a little before

deciding to leave today for our daily morning walk on the beach.

No sunrise to see, misty rain gushing with high winds,

38 degrees, with a 28 degree wind chill.
 (feels pretty dang cold on the beach)

 With only 2 more days

here on South Padre Island, we figured we better go.

On days like this, we have the beach to ourselves.

There's something about just being there in God's awesomeness.
(By ourselves)

We stopped a couple times to pick a few shells that caught our eyes.

 

A man caught up with us and greeted us with the normal,

"How long are you down here for?"

Followed by, "Where are you from?"

 

This happens daily on our walk,

but this man, wearing a bright white hooded South Padre sweatshirt,

stayed and talked a little longer.

He was from Minnesota like us.

 

One of the million things I love about being down here

is meeting people from all over and finding out where they are from.

People, for some reason, light up when they talk about home.

 

We have this instant bond because we've left the snow and cold

in search of warm air and sunshine..

 

This man told me he was from the White Bear Lake area.

(near the Twin Cities)

After finding out where we were from,

he told me where he was originally from.

(now keep in mind, he's probably in his 70's)

Upon hearing his original city, I said,

"You must be Catholic, isn't everyone Catholic where you are from?"

Ice breaker-conversation starter

I do it all the time.

 

 

He told me he is Catholic.

But,

(you knew there would be a "but" didn't you?)

that he disagrees with some things.

And that he doesn't go to church because of it.

I half kidded that It's Lent, and it's the perfect time to come back!

 

Of course, I had to ask what those things were.

he only told me about one.

(because it was freezing cold, otherwise, I think we'd have talked

for hours, he was really nice)

 

I thought to myself,

Oh, no he's going to go on about same-sex marriages,

or abortion or Confession or the Eucharist.

 

But he didn't.

What he disagrees with

surprised me.

 

He doesn't believe in Hell.

 

I know there are a lot of people that don't believe there is a Hell,

I'm not sure I've met any of them though.

I've met anti-Catholics, ex-Catholics, Atheists, but not this.

 

I'm always curious.

I always want to know why.

I always want to try to understand people and why they think the way they do.

 

He told me he doesn't think God would send anyone to such a terrible place.

That, he thinks everyone goes to Heaven, because we are all "wired differently",

therefore, because God made us that way, why would he send us to Hell?

 

OH, you see, how we could probably talk for hours?

 

He obviously does not read the bible.

(I know, typical lukewarm "Catholic")

 

If he read the bible, he'd know that God is just.

(I told him God is just)

 

He'd know that God gives us free will to choose.

He would know there is a Hell.

 

He told me all the good things he does all the time.

That one time, when he was younger, and working,

he used to deliver sheetrock and he saw a billfold on the side of the highway,

stopped and his partner looked at him and was surprised that he was going to return the wallet.

I told him what an awesome example he was to this man,

how that one little thing probably effected him
 and has probably made him think more than once in his life.

 

He told me that he feels the same whether he goes to church or not.

That it is neither good or bad to go or not go.

He feels the same.

 

 

How very sad, that he's never been moved by The Spirit.

That he has never felt ON FIRE FOR GOD!! 

 

I told him about Fatima.

I suggested he try praying the rosary for a month.

He said his parents went to daily Mass and prayed the rosary daily.

 

The grace is there, it's within reach.

 

White Bear Man has beautiful white hair, a bright infectious smile,

and he made me think he is probably an awesome grandpa!

 

He needs prayers though, don't you think?

Could you pray for him?

 

When we parted ways,

He hugged us both!!

He instigated the hugs!  

See what a nice, sweet man he is?

 

Just think what our prayers could do for him.

 

At this point, the wind had gotten stronger and we decided to go home.

We had walked maybe only a half mile down the beach.
We usually walk about 3 miles total.

 

God has a plan for all of us.

This was no chance meeting.

 

God knew we'd meet.

And He knew YOU and I would pray for White Bear Man.