Identify what is most important )0( Eliminate everything else
The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. Dr. Paul Farmer
The suffering of others is not alleviated when no one knows about it.
There is no one right way to live. Daniel Quinn Ishmael
The only thing that you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right sort of people.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. Kurt Vonnegut

Friday, July 5, 2013

beliefs

I have been struggling with a loss of faith for most of this year.  I was regularly involved in our church for a long time.  Then, I cobbled together my favorite aspects of all of the religions I investigated during my twenties.  Seems like a lifetime ago, and I guess it is. 

Whatever happened, I held on to those practices and beliefs, that were not connected to any one spiritual practice or faith community.  But, now all of that is gone.  Just gone.

I still believe in a kind and loving Universe.  I still believe in the inherent goodness of people, that despite how things might go awry, few people set out to be terrible people.  I still believe in lots of things, and am recently welcoming hope back into my life.  Of course, having the whole divorce mess nearly over is helping that dramatically.

I have been thinking and writing about this empty space in my life for a long time; more intensively and focused in the past six months.  I have been reading.  Nothing seems to inspire me.  I know that because it bothers me, this empty space, that I am most likely on a path to regaining my faith in a larger-than-self.  It would be nice to find a church, a faith community, that is a good fit for me.

This morning I began talks with a woman who offers spiritual counseling.  It went well and I think that it is a good beginning.  I will be seeing her again in two weeks.  This should be very interesting.
Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. DonnaJuly 7, 2013 at 2:24 PM

    I too,have been struggling with what I really believe as opposed to what I raised (Roman Catholic,which I stopped going to when I was 18.I later became a Congregationalist)to believe or expected to believe. It has been an interesting journey. I have discovered that anything I used to look to outside of myself I can find within-strength,happiness,peace,and contentment. OF course,it's still an ongoing journey-good luck with yours! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. JJuly 7, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience with me. I do not have any notion of where this might lead, but it promises to be very interesting.

    By the way, I begin my training tomorrow. Yay.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sue xxJuly 9, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    When I read this book http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/10/09/review-choosing-simplicity/

    I was delighted to hear that living a simpler life can often lead us to a more spiritual life, can you borrow a copy of it if you haven't already ready read it,
    Big hug!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. JJuly 9, 2013 at 7:18 PM

    I will add it to my reserve list at the library. Thanks for the resource. Although, if I have not found it at my current level of simplicity, to be more receptive I might have to start living in my car. Oh, lordy, CoolCat will love that! :)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)