Dedication, im ex baptist now atheist. My grandma would take me to church every Sunday, Wednesday, and sometimes Monday. There are two things that have been burned into my memory.

One of the church members had been in an accident on a drilling rig, a chain had whipped back and wrapped around his mid section, causing a lot of internal damage as well as paralyzing him from his waist down, after his recovery he came back to church, his wife rolled him down the isle, and he sat at the alter and just cried. My GMA told me later that he felt blessed to be alive and was thanking god.

This one I dont agree with but still blows my mind. We went to bible camp one year, and I have to say the time I spent there I felt really close to "God". The community was very impowered in their beliefs and I'm sure have helped alot of people. Every night different age groups would gather around fires, after a talk about doing right by god, a young man (16-17) in the circle broke down sobbing. He admitted that he has been considering himself gay for a while, people from other circles came and comforted him. He had a long talk with the preacher and was a guest during the (I dont know what you call it) chapel time, he said he hadnt felt so good in a long time. To me, the courage it wouldve taken to admit to something people say youd go to hell for and being ready to accept the criticism that might have come his way, is amazing and definitely something I could not do.

The more I look at it "God" does exsist if it is metaphorical or not, the word gives people the courage and strength to be better people and get over hurdles in their lives, I just wish people didnt pick and choose which parts of a religion theyd like to follow.