Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 6
Enda’s turning point included praying directly to Jesus: “if heaven is real, if hell is real…please save my soul…no matter how stupid I am…just hold on to me”; what does that prayer assume about God’s mercy and God’s power, and what discomfort does it raise about how little control we may actually have in our “conversion stories”?
Another way to ask: Enda prayed to Jesus for mercy and asked Him to “hold on” to him. What does that prayer show about God’s mercy and power, and why might it bother us that we may not control our own conversion story as much as we think?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
His prayer assumes Jesus is truly Lord and able to save a person who feels helpless and foolish, showing confidence in mercy stronger than his failures. It also raises the discomforting idea that conversion is not mainly self-improvement, but being “held” by God when we feel out of control.
- Enda prays conditionally but urgently: “if heaven is real, if hell is real… and if you are the Lord of the universe…please…save my soul.”
- He directly addresses Jesus as Creator: “creator of all things, referring to Jesus.”
- He expects mercy despite weakness: “no matter how stupid I am, no matter how many mistakes I make.”
- He asks for God’s grip more than his own: “please just hold on to me.”
- Later he describes salvation as God’s initiative: “God taking me dirty and muddy…pulled me up out of the mire…start cleaning me off.”