Really vs Actually

At church today, the first reading was the Exodus Passover story. And I got caught up wondering about religion and "actually."

Did Noah actually sail the ark?
Did Moses actually glow so much he had to wear a veil?
Did the Nile actually turn to blood?

And then I realized that it doesn't matter. Because to those who believe, the answer is yes:

Noah really did sail the ark.
Moses really did glow.
And the Nile really did turn to blood.

I know we talked about this in one of my classes this year, so it's something that's been talked about before, but I'm talking about it now. Because it's hitting me now.

In the hearts of believers, all the facts of faith really happened. Actually goes out the window. If it actually happened... who cares? Who cares if I actually brushed my hair or if I combed it or if I just woke up with perfect hair? Who cares if Bob actually mailed the package? If Bob gave it to Jim and Jim mailed it, then the package was really mailed by Bob. 

I'm not making my point.

Actually is fact, is 100% provable proof that X happened just as X describes.

Really is truth. 100% or not, Really is real. 

Does a three-year-old care that his stuffed crocodile doesn't have a pulse? Croodee is still Real. He's not an actual crocodile. But he's real. Actual doesn't matter. Real does. 
And if Leo the cocker spaniel puppy isn't actually a lion... he can still really be one.

Take that, Jesus Seminar.