So today I went for parent teacher conferences.  (snooze)  This is actually the first time in 3 years I’ve gone.  My theory has always been “if they are getting straight A’s or a couple B’s, what is there to discuss”?  (Plus, they are not mandatory in high school.)

But today I decided to go.  I talked to a few of the teachers, but not all because I’ve got three kids there, times 7 classes each.  I don’t have all frickin’ day.  I visited all the ‘B’ classes and I decided to visit Kaylee’s Theology teacher because we had a month long discussion in our house regarding animals and whether or not they have souls.

I ended up leaving his class with a warm heart and a continued thirst to hear more.  I almost asked him if I could mentor him!  lol.  One of my girls Theology teachers teach ‘animals DON’T have souls’, my other daughters teacher teaches that ‘they absolutely DO” and not only that, but every living thing has a soul.  Hmmmm same Catholic school, very different approach.

So he says, “The problem seems to be when people have the idea that the ‘soul’ is ‘religion’….it is not.  The soul is the persons ‘essence’.” 

I swear to God at that moment it was as if there was a light shining behind him and a chorus singing softly.  All of the years of reading I’ve done on the subject at that very moment flooded through my mind in rapid fire motion and it clicked!  What a wonderful feeling.  I’ve read in depth about the essence and souls but I have always waivered on the inclusion of religion and where exactly it fits in.  (but that’s another post…or ten posts)

He then went on to say that it was odd I came in because he had just watched an old Twilight Zone episode where a man and his dog both passed away.  When the souls left the bodies, they saw the Pearly Gates, walked up to the guard and requested entrance. 

The guard said the man was welcome to enter, but not the dog.  The man was sad and said, ‘but we’ve been together for many years!’.  The guard emphatically said, ‘no, he is not allowed to enter here’.  So the man looked toward the dog and said, ‘if he can’t enter, I will not either.’   And they turned from the gates.  They decided they would stay together even if that meant it was lingering in limbo for eternity.

They walked awhile and came upon an angel.  The angel welcomed the man and said that he was there to bring them to Heaven.  The soul of the man was surprised and told the angel that he was just at the gate and the gatekeeper said although he could enter,  his dog could not. 

The Angel replied, “You were not at the gates of Heaven, you were at the gates of Hell.”  Whoooo (I added that… lol)  The Angel told the man that the reason the dog was not allowed in was because the dog could smell the brimstone and realize it was actually hell, thus tip-off the man, who therefore would not enter!

Is that a cool story or WHAT????

So then her teacher was telling me of things that have happened in his life like coming upon for instance, a book, that would contain information on something he was puzzled about or struggling with or interested in.  And that was weird because that happens to me all the time.

So I wonder if, after 3 years…did I go there for my kids grades or…. was I somehow going for me?  I tell ya, this shit is weird and makes me all tingly.