My little friend Asal, and her thoughts on religion

Another miracle to my soul – by my little friend Asal. Asal, about 8 years old.

Yesterday night at around 9.30pm, I am sitting outside the gate watching the cars pass by and watching people going home... My basic Arabic is not too bad, but often I cannot communicate as well as I should especially when the conversation is anything beyond basic.

Asal passes by. She tells me that she's going to watch a movie - one of these mobile theatres that show Christian movies just a couple of meters from her home, in an open field.

Will I go, she wants to know.
What is the movie about, I ask.
It’s about Abraham, and I must go to watch it with her.

I ask her whether she is a 'Mesihi' - i.e. a Christian as they are referred to here, or a Moslem.
She looks at me with amazement and she tells me that she is neither.
I insist. Does she go to church?
I want to know.
Of course she does, she says.
She is a bit lost, ( I think I am more lost that she is) but finally, and with refreshing finality, she tells me that she is Asal.
And she spells out her name for me.
She is not 'Christian', nor is she 'Muslim'.
She is sitting on my lap and her eyes literary glow.
Indeed, she is Asal, and I am sure that God must know her by name!
Life is beautiful.

Beautiful indeed. So why don't you let God bless and renew you!