Can Faith be Unwavering yet Unconventional?

​Faith has always been a part of my life. Growing up Catholic, my parents encouraged us to be close to God. They believed, as I did, that everything is controlled and managed by one ultimate power. This belief stayed with me, even as my life took me far from my roots.

When I moved to Saudi Arabia, the center of Islam, I worked with a very devout Muslim, our  Director of Pharmacy. Around the same time, I married a converted Muslim man. He was deeply committed to his faith, always going for Umrah, a pilgrimage, and praying regularly. His dedication piqued my curiosity about Islam. I started reading about it, trying to understand why he was so devoted. As I read more, I felt my heart drawing closer to God in a way I hadn’t felt before.

One day, I told my boss that I wanted to go on a pilgrimage. He explained that I needed to be a Muslim to go, so I decided to convert. With the help of a Muslim organization, I went through the conversion process from Catholicism to Islam.

When we were preparing for the pilgrimage, I was unsure how to pray properly. My boss told me that when I reached the holiest place in Islam, I should close my eyes and whisper to God whatever my heart truly desired, and He would listen.

For many years, I had been suffering from uterine bleeding. Doctors told me that having a child would be difficult. I shared this with my husband, and we resigned ourselves to the possibility that it might take years for us to conceive.

Standing in the grand mosque on the last day of Ramadan, surrounded by worshippers, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and awe. I closed my eyes, and tears streamed down my face. In that powerful moment, I whispered to God, asking for the blessing of a child.

When we returned home, my bleeding continued for a while but then stopped. A few months later, I noticed changes in my body and decided to take a pregnancy test. To my amazement, it was positive. It felt like a miracle. When we saw the doctor for an ultrasound, we realized that the conception likely happened around the time of my heartfelt prayer during the pilgrimage.

This experience deepened my faith and made me realize that everyone has their own unique relationship with God. I am not saying that everyone should convert to Islam; faith is indeed a very personal journey. But I am grateful for my special relationship with God. It has carried me through the hardest times in my life and continues to be a source of strength and comfort.

I may not be religious in the traditional sense, but I know that God loves me deeply. His love has blessed me in ways I never imagined possible. My faith, though unconventional, is profound and unwavering. For this incredible journey and the countless blessings I've received, I am eternally grateful, and I give Him all the glory.