Last night we went out to dinner with Clint's parents, and Carey was telling me about a spooky incident that occurred in his hotel room a few weeks ago while he was at a conference. While listening to his story, I believed everything he said, simply because he is a trustworthy man and not the sort to exaggerate. Yet somehow, if this is even possible, I simply don't believe in ghosts (as mentioned in a previous post regarding my vibrating mattress). I don't know where I get this scepticism from; my parents believe in ghosts. Clint's parents believe in ghosts. Clint himself even believes in ghosts, although he has a different perspective on what ghosts actually are. In fact, I think everyone around me believes in the paranormal to some degree.
When I was about eight years old, I fell off my bunk bed during a nightmare, and when I opened my eyes, there was an apparition standing in my doorway, slowly waving its arms up and down as if it were trying to fly. It was lipping words that I could not hear, but I could understand. Even then, as a little girl, I wrote the whole incident off as some kind of optical illusion; an extension of the dream I had just been experiencing. Never once did I actually think it was a ghost. About ten years ago, I had another incident occur in which I saw "something," and this time, Clint saw it too. But even when he tells the story to our friends, I write it off as something that must have a more logical explanation.
Again, I don't know why I have such a conviction to doubt that which I evidently see with my own two eyes, whereas I insist on believing in That which I can never see. Maybe a lot more rides on ignoring the former and believing the latter. So much of what you believe is a choice, and I choose not to believe in ghosts. I just do not see a purpose for putting my faith into that particular belief. I do see the flaws in this theory, however. For example, you can "choose" not to believe that fire is hot, but if you touch it, it's still going to burn. But I feel relatively confident that I will never be scorched by the supernatural, so as of now, I am going to stick with my belief--or lack thereof.
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I know I'm not technically "around" you, but I don't believe in ghosts or anything of the supernatural variety. I'm a strict realist. So, there you go. I happen to know, however, that many in my family believe in ghosts.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe in aliens, but not those of the little green men variety. I feel like it would be naive to believe we're alone in the universe, so my belief in aliens is more a refusal to believe in the odds of our individuality in such a vast space and less some adamant belief that Vulcans are going to appear and invite us to some galactic federation. :)
"..In this town, we call home, everyone hail to the Pumpkin song..."
ReplyDeleteYou're like the scully of the super natural world!!! What about spirits!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hey Jewls! I love it when you comment because it always takes me by surprise. :)
ReplyDeleteWould spirits be the same thing as ghosts? I'm not sure if there's any marked difference between the two. I guess it's a moot point though, because I don't believe in either. Good analogy though--I guess I am sort of like Scully. Except for she was proven wrong time and time again, and hopefully that's not my fate!
Kristyn, great comment--you really put into words what I myself have a hard time explaining, although your comment on aliens made me realize that I have no "official" position on extraterrestrials. When I think really hard about it, I come to the conclusion that a part of me believes it is possible for there to be life on other planets, but by "life," I think I'm leaning more toward mold or a piece of bacteria, or maybe even a little spiney critter if I really stretch the imagination, but not "little green men" as you so aptly stated. It's funny, because I think it's the strict realist in you that makes you believe in aliens, because that practical side is saying "No way are we floatin' out here in this big dark pit all by ourselves."
Jo,
ReplyDeleteI always read... Rarely post something though. I enjoy everyone posts but I'm the silent observer that comes out of the woodwork every once in a while!
Wait--you always read this blog? I had no idea. That is so sweet (even if you are a "lurker", lol). I wish you had a blog that I could follow...I'd love to know more about the world you live in.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll let you continue on with your silent observations now. ;-) Best wishes for your upcoming training!
Jojo, too tired to comment much (trudging through dissertation hell 'cause chapter three rough draft is due this Saturday), but I am up-to-date on your blog now. Great posts! Luv ya!
ReplyDeleteOkay so now I feel like a lurking intruder... I feel I must explain why I rarely post. First off I have very limited access to the computer and if I do post it is via my iPhone. Second I don't want to be that person who comments on everything everyone else writes. Also I don't have a blog because of reason number one and I don't suffer from insomnia until I deploy... Who knows maybe I'll start one on this deployment. With that said, trust me I know how you feel when you can't sleep, your eyes are on fire, and you're so exhausted time seems like it is standing still. I could go all "fight club" but Perry would take offense! Just kidding baby, I love you. So there... I type this all out on my phone just for you JoJo!
ReplyDeleteThat was a LOT to type on your iPhone Julie! And with virtually NO grammar errors--I'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteTwo women going all "fight club" on each other? I'm pretty sure that Perry would actually dig that. LOL
In all honesty, I have a lot of respect for people like you who are "listeners" rather than "talkers." Having a blog in which I talk about life and occassionally whine about my day doesn't make me special...if anything, it makes me a little egocentrical. But the fact that you care enough about your friends' lives to quietly read all of their weekly tirades does make YOU something special. Translation: I love you too, Jewls. ;-)
P.S. That not-being-able to-sleep line was really something; I think I might have to steal that one.
Lol Jodi! I actually meant where he explains what insomnia feels like, not that I wanted to battle... Virtually no grammatical errors, what can I say Mrs. French would be proud, turns out I'm not one of her donkeys! Lol
ReplyDeleteYes, but you'll always be one of her "snookums" or "sweetie pies," or whatever it was that she used to call her students.
ReplyDeleteHave a good night, snookums!
Hey, Jodi, long time no blog! I guess I am feeling the desire again.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am surprised you do not believe in ghosts because I feel spirits and ghosts are the same and I know we both believe in the afterlife. I guess I'm speaking from the Christianity point of few. It is a choice, however. I agree with that. I choose to believe my parents are around at times. I choose to believe that dream where my godfather came to me was a real visit from him. You know what I'm saying. It's all comforting, therefore I choose to be comforted.
I'm getting a little away from what you were saying about ghosts, but one thing I have always chosen to believe is that if there is really no afterlife, i.e., heaven, I will never know that difference once I'm gone. Believing in it now helps me live my life a certain way, so I continue to have faith. Don't get me wrong, however. I have asked the questions of myself. I have tried to be skeptical, but I always come back to that same thing. It helps, therefore I believe. Does that make sense?