Many years ago in the eighteenth century, a man went into a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As with most barbers, as he began his work the barber started chatting about various subjects and eventually touched on belief and God. The barber said, “I don’t believe in God any more, I don’t think he exists.” “What makes you say that?” asks the puzzled customer. “Well you just have to out into the street to realise God doesn’t exist” replied the barber. “If god really existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children, starving to death? If God existed there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God allowing all these things to happen.” The customer thought for a few moments, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want a lengthy argument. The barber finished his work and the customer left the shop.

In the street outside he saw a man with long dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. The customer entered the shop once more and said to the barber, “I don’t believe that barbers exist.” “How can you say that,” asked the surprised barber, “I’m here and I’m a barber.” “No!” the customer exclaimed, “Barbers don’t exist, because if they did there would be no people outside with dirty long hair.” “Ah!” replied the barber, “I do exist, but the trouble is, that not everyone chooses to come in.” “Surely, that’s the whole point,” exclaimed the triumphant customer, “God too does exist, the trouble is that people don’t turn to Him and don’t look for Him and that is why there is so much pain and suffering in the world today.”