I have a confession to make: I have been Catholic all my life and Ihave never fully read the bibile. Unbeleiveable considering I went to Catholic School from kindergarten to eighth grade! I have followed my religion my own way. I believe God and I are close, not to be funny but, we talk. Needless to sayI do most of the talking, he does respond to my taking in ways that I amsure he exists. I know this when I wake up and see the sun peek through my window, or when I drive along the road and see the leaves changing colors. I know this is true whenever I look up on a clear night and see the brightest stars through the wispy lcouds. And I fully believe that there is more thatn I can imagine witing for me when the sun tries to sneak through the clouds forming rays of the light in such a way that leaves me breathless. Still, in all of this wonderment how do I still have fear in my heart? I have fear because I do not have control and I do not know what will happen, I can only hope. I have a faith, that even when shaken still holds true. I think though, how can I be sure. I think

this on those dark nights when everyone in the house is asleep but me, and all that I can hear is the nervous beating of my heart. This is when I contomplat what happens to me when I die. Will there be nothing like before I was born. Will I not know the conscious mind? Will I die and lay in the cold earth and be still for all eternity with only the perfect joy I had in life behind me and there will be no more? Or will I die and wake up, like life was a dream, and it gets better. All of the beauty I was tsalking about surrounds me and I am once again with my family? Will it be a mixture of all te happiness I had in life with the constant beuaty of my favorite days with my family for all eternity? These sare the thoughts that run rampant in my mind. Not the best time to think of such complex ideas, I know, but it's tha moorib curiosity that keeps you thinking. These thoughts and these nights are the reason I took this class. I was looking for answeres or an end to my fears. I am still afraid but now, I am more hopeful. I have learned through this class that nooene really knows. I have learned that all over the world, within everyreligion , people simply believe.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Catholic School, God-ward Corinthians, , saved believe, christ risen, jesus died, people doubt,
Approximate Word count = 797
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)