A gentleman takes off his hat when he step indoors. My mother taught me this, and it is deeply ingrained. It’s been my lifelong habit.

Times have changed and guys wear caps indoors all the time. This made me think, my mother’s rule is obsolete. I should stop being weak and change my habit and leave the cap on.

But I couldn’t do it. So I thought further. It’s no big deal, why not follow her rule anyway, though society doesn’t care? Once again I have reverted to taking off my cap as I step indoors, and I feel better.

And then I realize, this is a model of belief in God. People’s mothers bring them to church as kids, and as adults they have their doubts. At some level they know the belief probably doesn’t make sense, but what’s the big deal? It’s more comfortable to keep thinking as mother taught us.

[25 July 2023]