Starden and Duende had discussed at random times their surface views on living a Christian life, loving with godly love, and believing in the freedom of having a personal relationship with Christ, as opposed to pursuing more traditional religious practices. But it always seemed to be discussed through an unseen fog. or at a distance and with a certain unacknowledged reservation. Starden was such a genuinely kindhearted man to her though. If nothing else was crystal clear about him, then positively clearer than crystal to her was his purity of kindness and the beautiful spirit that could only be resting within him as such accordingly. Weren't such attributes as the true gentleness and tenderness so evidently at work in Starden highlighted repeatedly in The Bible as being notable attributes of Jesus himself? Duende found herself constantly wondering about Starden's spiritual state, and what he thought of God. If God led him. If he considered God to be his guide. If God was number one in his life... That last thought stung Duende's heart a bit. In an auto-piloted way of steady navigation, she had believed personally that God was number one in her life, but was He really? Admittedly, she hadn't prayed or been to church in too long of a time, at least not consistently, and not with ears as opened as they needed to be in order to truly receive. She knew undoubtedly the God was number one in he lives of her parents though, and this weighed on her mind now as she realized the state of her own spiritual lack. As she realized...that if you have to question that God is number one in your life at all, then that means He clearly isn't.