From Skeptic To Believer In One Night!

As a child, I often eavesdropped on my parents’ heated arguments. Late one Saturday night, during one of these usual “ear-to-the-door” sessions, things seemed surprisingly less intense than usual. Instead of the customary shouting, I heard what sounded more like a lighthearted debate.

I could clearly hear my mother daring my father to “go with her” that Sunday night.

It wasn’t until years later that I learned the true nature of the dare. My mother had managed to persuade my father to accompany her to a spiritualist service in a London church.

To this day I am not sure how she managed to persuade him to go, but it turned out to be a life-changing experience for my father. I imagine it was also a great relief for my mother, who finally had a partner who shared her faith and passion.

Raised a Catholic and later a devout spiritualist, my mother often endured the ridicule of my father, who made fun of her faith in God and her beliefs about heaven and the afterlife.

But her dare marked the beginning of a significant change for him. While my father had never embraced organized religion or spirituality, he was about to have a profound spiritual awakening.

So, off they went. As “luck” would have it, Joseph Benjamin, a well-known spiritualist medium at the time, was one of the guest speakers at the church that weekend. My father later admitted that as he bundled up in his winter coat and scarf, he secretly hoped that he could make a quick getaway after the service and perhaps stop for a beer or two at his favorite local pub!

The church was packed that night. My parents could barely squeeze into a small standing area behind the last pew. As more people arrived, the space grew smaller until the doors finally closed.

One of the best gifts you can give to someone, is a wider perspective. It’s also one of the best gifts you can receive ~ C. JoyBell C.

My mother repeatedly begged my father to stop his disrespectful giggling and comments, urging him to let the more serious attendees enjoy the service. Later, my father confessed that her constant elbowing finally forced him to stop his antics, though he struggled to hold back his laughter for the first half of the service.

But then Joseph Benjamin stepped onto the platform.

Benjamin was a British medium who gained recognition in the mid-20th century for his work in Spiritualist churches and gatherings. Known for his engaging personality and East London accent, he often gave inspiring platform demonstrations in which he connected with spirit to deliver detailed and personal messages to members of his audience.

He practiced mediumship at a time when Spiritualism was experiencing a surge in popularity in the UK, particularly in the post-war years when many people were looking for comfort and hope. His reputation as a skilled and respected medium is still remembered by those familiar with Spiritualist history and practice.

Benjamin was particularly popular in the Spiritualist community for his no-nonsense approach and his emphasis on providing comfort and proof of life after death to those grieving the loss of loved ones. His readings typically included highly specific and validating information such as names, dates, and even private inside jokes that left the surviving relatives of loved ones deeply moved.

“Hooy,” Benjamin said in his thick accent, “Yeah, I’m talking to you in the gray coat and black scarf, right at the back.”

My mother said my father looked around in confusion, trying to figure out who the medium was talking to. It was only when several people pointed directly back at him, that my father realized he was now the person in the spotlight…and immediately lost all color in his complexion!

Undaunted by my father’s shock and surprise, Benjamin calmly continued: “I’ve got an old geezer ‘ere named William, and guv’nor, he’s proper fumin’ at you! He says there are some rafters in your garage where you’ve been shoving his precious tools to collect rust.”

People are not stupid. They believe things for reasons. The last way for skeptics to get the attention of bright, curious, intelligent people is to belittle or condescend or to show arrogance toward their beliefs ~ Carl Sagan

According to my mother, my father was completely stunned. No one but him knew the fate of my grandfather’s treasured tools, long neglected and hidden in the garage. It was one of his best-kept secrets, and to hear it revealed in this way left him speechless.

That moment was my father’s first step into the world of spirituality, or as he later called it, “knowing.” The experience inspired him to invite my grandmother and his other relatives over the following Sunday. As they all gathered in the kitchen that evening, my father shared his extraordinary experience in church.

My mother told me that it seemed as if my grandfather William was right there with them that night, because the lights in the kitchen began to flicker on and off continuously. This is one of the most common ways our loved ones in spirit let us know they’re near. The energy of a group of loved ones gathered together creates a kind of conduit – an opening for them to connect. It is a powerful and undeniable sign of the wonderful world of spirit.

My father’s instant conversion from skeptic to believer is a reminder that anyone can have a spiritual awakening or “Damascus experience” like the Apostle Paul – at any time, often when they least expect it!

If you have stubborn or cynical family and friends, who refuse to believe or ridicule you for your spiritual beliefs, never lose hope. Spirit has a way of surprising people, and even the most hardened skeptics can have a moment that completely changes their perspective and their lives.

Just as my father’s experience changed his life, your loved ones may one day encounter something so profound that it changes their understanding of this world and the next – and yours, too. Keep the faith and trust that everyone’s soul journey unfolds in its own divine design and time.