There is no God?

Sitting in Sacrament meeting a couple of weeks ago, Joel turns to me and says, "What he's saying (referring to the speaker) is false." The about-to-enter the MTC speaker had just said, "The Book of Mormon is the word of God." "That's false," said Joel LOUDLY, "Because there is no God."

What the what?

First of all, that Joel was connecting to anything the speaker, up on the podium and behind a microphone, -- way out of Joel world -- was saying was kind of great. But that he was stating very loudly in the middle of church that "There is no God" was kinda not so great.

Truth be told I've never expected Joel to grow up to be a practicing Mormon. Like most people on the autistic spectrum he believes in the tangible and concrete. Seeing is believing. If a speaker up on a podium and behind a microphone, albeit in the same room, is way out of Joel world, a nebulous God in some far reaching heaven might as well be in a galaxy far, far FAR away. For him it's not even plausible.

However I didn't expect a resolution about the non-existence of a supreme being to come so early in his life.

We ended up having a family home evening where I shared personal experiences about when God has been there for me. Joel didn't like it, but I know he was listening. Despite the fact that he had his head embedded in a couch cushion and his fingers crammed in his ears. I want Joel to believe in God because I want him to feel that there is always somebody who has his back even when Mommy and Daddy aren't there.

This past Sunday no declarations were made about God's existence or lack thereof. However our pew was not without shenanigans. Joel was playing with Kelly's blackberry which he often does during Sacrament meeting. Normally that's a okay since he's usually doing something innocuous and it keeps him quiet. But last Sunday I happened to glance down at the blackberry and what was Joel doing? Reading the scriptures? Nope. Looking at all the family pics Daddy's taken? Nah. He was . . . drum roll please . . . playing TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER. Face cards in Sacrament meeting? I'm sure that's a no no and then some.

More "Mother of the Year" points for me . . . sigh . . .