Author:  John Irving
Viewed: 89 - Published at: a year ago

But you of all people!" I said to him. "Look at me-I never was a believer, not until this happened. If I can believe it, why can't you?" I asked Mr. Merrill. He began to stutter. "It's easier for you to j-j-j-just accept it. Belief is not something you have felt, and then not felt; you haven't l-l-l-lived with belief, and with unbelief. It's easier f-f-f-for you," the Rev. Mr. Merrill repeated. "You haven't ever been f-f-f-full of faith, and full of d-d-d-doubt. Something j-j-j-just strikes you as a miracle, and you believe it. For me, it's not that s-s-s-simple," said Pastor Merrill. "But it is a miracle!" I cried. "He told you that dream-I know he did! And you were there-when he saw his name, and the date of his death, on Scrooge's grave. You were there!" I cried. "How can you doubt that he knew?" I asked Mr. Merrill. "He knew-he knew everything! What do you call that-if you don't call it a miracle?" "You've witnessed what you c-c-c-call a miracle and now you believe-you believe everything," Pastor Merrill said. "But miracles don't c-c-c-cause belief-real miracles don't m-m-m-make faith out of thin air; you have to already have faith in order to believe in real miracles. I believe that Owen was extraordinarily g-g-g-gifted-

( John Irving )
[ A Prayer for Owen Meany ]
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