“I have always taken a different view. For many years I have felt that my duty was to live my faith, not persuade others as to its veracity. At every opportunity afforded me I will happily, even eagerly, give testimony as to the values and beliefs by which I attempt to live. But I do not feel it my duty to convince. Such a responsibility has not been placed upon my shoulders as a Christian. The only injunction placed upon my shoulders… is to live the principles I profess. I would hope to be able to say I have not made such an attempt when speaking with the two of you… have I?”

“No, I have never felt the least sense of that common persuasive element you speak of,” answered Thaddeus. “In fact, you are no doubt the most gracious and sensitive man of outspoken beliefs I have ever encountered. Not only do you not push your views onto others, you seem genuinely to enjoy listening to alternative perspectives.”

“I do indeed,” rejoined the baron, “except when those others are fellow brothers and sisters who speak narrowly of my Father and his ways.”

“You are not in the least threatened by opposing viewpoints,” Thaddeus added. “I would even say you seem eager to hear them. You have always treated me with the greatest of respect, even though I have known we were in disagreement about some fundamental issues of belief.”

“You are right. I see nothing whatever to be anxious about in such disagreement. Perhaps it is because I so strongly believe that all truth will in the end be known that I feel so little anxiety to right every error here and now. As if I saw clearly enough with my earthbound eyes and senses to do so anyway! It has always been a mystery to me how so many believers talk as if theirs are the only eyes in the universe, except God’s perhaps, to perceive truth without distortion. But there I go off on a detour again! I apologize.”

Thaddeus laughed. “I am glad to know you harbor frustrations of your own.”

“Many of them,” rejoined the baron. “There are such a multitude of things I do not understand. I remain very much still an eager young learner in the things of faith, believe me!”

A momentary break of silence followed.