What would be the reason for a person’s life if at the end of it all, you found out that God did not exist?

Who created the stars? Was it an accident? Who allowed you to see the rainbow at the end of your own personal storm? Who would we thank for the birth of our first born? Would it be the doctor? The nurse? Who would it be?

When you are all alone on those sleepless nights, when you are paralyzed with fear of the future or shamed by the guilt from your past, who will you pray to?

There are people on the left side of the political spectrum, such as the Hollywood elites, who are quick to point out the damage that this “God fellow” and religion have done. They will tell you of the evil of the Spanish Inquisition, the abuse of children by Catholic priests, and smugly say, “See what your god allowed? This god of yours has allowed evil to flourish, children to starve, the extermination of 6 million Jews, and the slaughter of the innocents in Rwanda and Sudan.”

I would readily agree with them that I know of no god as they describe who would allow that to happen. I would point out that the true believers fight against evil, whether it be in some far-off land or the evil that lurks within.

Those same believers fight to confront the forces in our society that would have us believe that in order to sell a product, whether it be dish soap or blue jeans, you have to sell sex. They would have us believe that there is no God, and that we are all here by accident. We just happen to be here by the luck of the draw.

They would also have us believe that there is no good or evil, that everything is relative, and that if it feels good, do it. They will continue to tell us that he who has the most toys is the winner — and you should get yours before your neighbor does. I would rather live my life believing there is a God, and following his will, and find out that he doesn’t exist — than live my life being selfish and self-centered, then find out that he does exist.

My daughter asked me a question, the type of question that only a child could ask in her innocence. She asked, “If you could have one wish, what would it be?” I paused because of the heaviness in my heart. And looking away from her so she wouldn’t see those tears, I said “I wish that God would save all the children.”

I know it seems a little hokey and old-fashioned. You see, I’m one of those true believers, the type of person the secularists make fun of. They say if only those people were a little smarter or a little quicker on the draw, they wouldn’t need this “God fellow.”

I will readily admit I am not smart enough to prove the existence of God.

What I am sure about is that miracles happen, and that we are all God’s children made in his image and likeness. And I believe in the sanctity of life.

No matter how imperfect I am, the God I pray to is the God of mercy, compassion and second chances, and that ultimately, everything will be OK. You see in the end, isn’t that what we all really want?

No excuses.

Walter Backstrom is a Federal Way resident. Contact: wkbackstrom@aol.com.