I was at a dinner party at a friend’s house. He is a banker, and his world revolves around numbers. He believes in nothing beyond them. His wife, on the other hand, is a believer, though she is very discreet about it. Although not a believer himself, my friend shows intrigue from time to time, but he can also be dismissive. He tries to tease me occasionally, which I find amusing because I know that, deep down, he respects and appreciates me. Though sceptical, he is not cynical, and that makes our friendship possible.
We began with general conversation, catching up on the latest news, when his wife interrupted and asked me about my “work” and whether I had seen any “ghosts” lately. I laughed. Her husband then asked whether I really believed in such “stuff,” and I replied, of course, that I did. A mischievous smile crossed his face as he reminded me that he did not believe any of it, a fact he had stated many times before. I assured him that I respected his opinion but explained that I had come to believe there are things in this world that defy explanation. I asked whether he agreed, and he said that he did. Having reached this middle ground, I changed the subject, and we went on to enjoy a pleasant evening.
The bottom line is that it is a waste of time to try to convince anyone of the paranormal. People either accept it or they do not. Either way, it is better to agree to disagree than to waste energy trying to prove a point. We are at an age when information about the paranormal and life after death is freely available everywhere. If that is not enough for someone to believe, then either they are not ready for it, or they are not meant to receive it.
Live and let live. To each his own.
