"The future of this world has long been declared; the final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because the victory has already been posted on the scoreboard. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which team’s jersey we want to wear!" (1)
There is truth in this world. There is a singular truth about God and His expectations for his children. Finding that truth in the chaos of cultures, generation gaps, religions, governments, societal trends, economic classes, educational pursuits(etc) is a difficult task and one that many claim is impossible in this life. A friend of mine described his belief that no person on earth knows what is going to happen when we meet death so there is no real need to worry about it until it happens. I appreciate conversations like this that I've been privelaged to have with intelligent and insightful friends who are offering their perspective on a deeply personal issue. My appreciation doesn't mean I agree however and that is because even though there are many details about life, death, and God's vision for us His children that I do not know (and will wait to learn about), I do believe that God has sent us to earth at whatever time and place to accomplish one mission. That is to stand for what is morally right and true (according to what opportunity each person has had during their life to learn of God and His expectations) in a standard that God has established for His children.
Religion has been given a bad rap in this generation. Somehow traditional or conservative Christianity is identified and so associated with Right wing politics, a certain turnoff to the tide of liberal and often young thinkers of our day. While I am not actively interested in politics(though my opinions about corruption and lack of moral fiber among all the parties could make for its own blog post) I declare that any such association between being religious and being republican or conservative or right wing nut job are misdirected. I'm certain that intelligent debates could be had on this topic but my claim is that there IS and always will be a place for organized religion. Why though? When every person can determine their own type and style of spirituality? It is simple. God has given us specific and personal information since the creation of mankind.
Personal spirituality, while a beautiful focus for any person to have, is missing the pieces that we cannot come up with on our own. It is missing the specific revelation that God has already sent to man on earth. Information about His plan for sending us to earth. Information about His expectations for us. Information about giving us weakness and trial. Most especially information about how to rise above our shortcomings and grow closer to Him in our trials. Religion holds the pieces to those puzzles. This is where it gets sticky, however, because for as many types of religion that the world holds there are many more interpretations of each type which are then further complicated by culture and history. With such a complicated web it is no wonder to me that the sensability of most women and men is to turn away from organized religion in pursuit of their own balance off spirituality to meet their personal needs for peace. I believe, however, the pursuit of digging and searching for God's revealed truth on earth today and as it was given throughout history is worth the search; however uncomfortable, confusing, or complicated it may feel on the onset of such a journey.
The question returns however to WHY? What is wrong with the approach that what is good for one person may not be the flavor for another? When an individual is already satisfied in their faith whether traditional or personally formed, what is gained by beating down a path that could complicate, change, or challenge what is presently comfortable?
The reason in my mind is simple. God is. He has created us as His children. He knows and loves us individually. He has a mission for each one of us and that mission has to do with the choices we make in this life. He wants us each to have more than just our thoughts and feelings to rely on as we take on such a mission. He offers His hand in guiding us with literal instructions as well as personal instructions that can come from Him if we seek that hand in our life.
A few weeks ago a heard a quote(2) about the parent-child relationship between God and me and you.
"Nothing is going to startle us more, when we pass through the veil to other side, than to realize how well we know our Father, and how familiar his face is to us."
That is why I write about religion and reach out to you, my friends and family. When I heard that and each time I read it and think about it, my heart is pierced with a knowing it is true. That penetrating feeling compels me to ask others to consider God beyond the context they may already hold. That when you die, you will recognize Him. You will remember Him as a Father. His face will be familiar to you. You're life on earth will become the microcosm it actually is in the history of your existence, only a sliver in your timeline.
What will you do with your sliver of time? What have you done to seek God's guiding hand?
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(1) Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: Source: Cited in John Bytheway, When Times are Tough, (Deseret Book, 2004), 30
(2) President Ezra Taft Benson. Source: “Jesus Christ, Gifts and Expectations,” Ensign, December 1988, 6.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Combatting Spiritual Drift
I recently read an address given by Elder Russell M. Nelson(a leader in the LDS Church) at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, Illinois on September 2nd, 1993. It was after reading his message that I began writing this post. He concluded by quoting a statement from the leaders of the church at that time: “Our message is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are the sons and daughters of the same eternal Father.” I feel that same love and concern.
While much of my day is spent caring for, teaching, and enjoying my two tots, my mind is alive with questions, ideas, and inner conversation. This conversation always includes questions and dialogue about life, spirituality, and the entire human family and why spirituality really does matter; prompted I feel by the passing of my Grandpa Don. His death has changed my focus FROM inward appreciation for the role of faith in my life TO the reality of our short time to live and the Eternal life that is to follow. That our time on earth, while vivid and full of seasons, emotions, relationships, and change, is only a shadow of the life that is to come. And what is to come? I believe it is a beautiful reunion. A rebirth of our spiritual remembrance of what we were up to before we were born to physical parents on this earth. Also when we will be joined with those we have lost in our life, anscestors who preceded us, and most importantly to come home to our Father. Surely all hearts have ached for this reunion. Yet how many have identified this ache or feeling of something missing to missing their spiritual Father?
In general I believe the trend of cultures and societies in this era is to downplay spirituality, dismissing the bigger picture as if all that matters is our immediate surroundings and physical satisfaction. When our immediate senses can be plugged into our electronic connections 24/7 there is little time left for spiritual feeding and reconnecting with God our Father. The lie is that we are physical beings - while this is true the truth is that we are spiritual beings first
A while ago I saw someone on a late night show and he said something like "have you noticed how everybody has everything but nobody is happy?" The audience was laughing the way he was talking about it but that line has stuck with me. What more could we possibly want? Though things aren't perfect most Americans have freedom to live how they choose, access to healthy, affordable food, clean water, somewhere warm to sleep, public education and access to vaccines and medical treatments to keep us tickin'. Then there is the middle and upper class who in addition to the basics have amazing techology at their fingertips, new cars, beautiful homes, the list can go on. Somehow with all these blessings there is still a feeling of discontent and unsatisfaction with life. It is like a contagious sickness that remains undiagnosed. I believe it is a spiritual sickness of the heart caused by the spiritual drifting or dismissing of God in our life. Revering God seems out of date, ignorant, unpopular but I firmly stand by the notion that popularity has never been a test of what is true.
I guess I've always been a philosophical type. Always more interested in arts and expression than science or math. I wrote an entry recently about my desire to be part of an inter-religious community where discussion is open, encouraged, and about understanding one another. I shared this entry with my many facebook friends who are of different faiths and asked for any and all response. I was grateful and inspired to hear from several friends I grew up with and have known since I was a white haired tot. Their respect and willingness to tell me about their personal beliefs and experiences has encouraged me to take the next step on this journey. I'm going to create another blog dedicated to this purpose. I'm not sure what form it will take yet but I do know I want to learn about other faiths, their doctrine, culture, and the people who live it. I'll speak from my perspective as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(often called Mormons), referring to the doctrine of this faith and my perspective on how we all fit into the puzzle together.
"Given these realities, religion must shoulder greater responsibility in healing the spiritual sickness that engulfs our globe...The dismal dusk of today’s spiritual drift provides a rare opportunity for the radiance of religion to light the way to a new tomorrow. This can happen only as we proclaim eternal truths that have the power to engender spiritual strength. Human nature cannot be changed by reforming public policy; that kind of change comes by exposing the human mind and heart to the transforming teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have learned that when we teach His correct principles, people govern themselves appropriately."
While much of my day is spent caring for, teaching, and enjoying my two tots, my mind is alive with questions, ideas, and inner conversation. This conversation always includes questions and dialogue about life, spirituality, and the entire human family and why spirituality really does matter; prompted I feel by the passing of my Grandpa Don. His death has changed my focus FROM inward appreciation for the role of faith in my life TO the reality of our short time to live and the Eternal life that is to follow. That our time on earth, while vivid and full of seasons, emotions, relationships, and change, is only a shadow of the life that is to come. And what is to come? I believe it is a beautiful reunion. A rebirth of our spiritual remembrance of what we were up to before we were born to physical parents on this earth. Also when we will be joined with those we have lost in our life, anscestors who preceded us, and most importantly to come home to our Father. Surely all hearts have ached for this reunion. Yet how many have identified this ache or feeling of something missing to missing their spiritual Father?
In general I believe the trend of cultures and societies in this era is to downplay spirituality, dismissing the bigger picture as if all that matters is our immediate surroundings and physical satisfaction. When our immediate senses can be plugged into our electronic connections 24/7 there is little time left for spiritual feeding and reconnecting with God our Father. The lie is that we are physical beings - while this is true the truth is that we are spiritual beings first
A while ago I saw someone on a late night show and he said something like "have you noticed how everybody has everything but nobody is happy?" The audience was laughing the way he was talking about it but that line has stuck with me. What more could we possibly want? Though things aren't perfect most Americans have freedom to live how they choose, access to healthy, affordable food, clean water, somewhere warm to sleep, public education and access to vaccines and medical treatments to keep us tickin'. Then there is the middle and upper class who in addition to the basics have amazing techology at their fingertips, new cars, beautiful homes, the list can go on. Somehow with all these blessings there is still a feeling of discontent and unsatisfaction with life. It is like a contagious sickness that remains undiagnosed. I believe it is a spiritual sickness of the heart caused by the spiritual drifting or dismissing of God in our life. Revering God seems out of date, ignorant, unpopular but I firmly stand by the notion that popularity has never been a test of what is true.
I guess I've always been a philosophical type. Always more interested in arts and expression than science or math. I wrote an entry recently about my desire to be part of an inter-religious community where discussion is open, encouraged, and about understanding one another. I shared this entry with my many facebook friends who are of different faiths and asked for any and all response. I was grateful and inspired to hear from several friends I grew up with and have known since I was a white haired tot. Their respect and willingness to tell me about their personal beliefs and experiences has encouraged me to take the next step on this journey. I'm going to create another blog dedicated to this purpose. I'm not sure what form it will take yet but I do know I want to learn about other faiths, their doctrine, culture, and the people who live it. I'll speak from my perspective as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(often called Mormons), referring to the doctrine of this faith and my perspective on how we all fit into the puzzle together.
"Given these realities, religion must shoulder greater responsibility in healing the spiritual sickness that engulfs our globe...The dismal dusk of today’s spiritual drift provides a rare opportunity for the radiance of religion to light the way to a new tomorrow. This can happen only as we proclaim eternal truths that have the power to engender spiritual strength. Human nature cannot be changed by reforming public policy; that kind of change comes by exposing the human mind and heart to the transforming teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have learned that when we teach His correct principles, people govern themselves appropriately."
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Respect driven or patronising?
I spent some time yesterday reading the doctrine of the LDS regarding the second coming of Jesus Christ, the period that we refer to as The Millennium, and about Post Mortal Life. As I did so I had to clarify a few things with myself. First of all I asked myself why I care to be part of a religious forum? Second whether my approach is open and respectful or just patronising?
The answers aren't very simple but nothing really is below the surface.
So, why a religious forum?
1. I believe a relationship with God is essential to the spiritual health of each and every person on this earth. It is among the first forms of nourishment in the soul of every person. I see an open and respect driven religious forum as one way to combat the spiritual drift or spiritual sickness we see throughout the world that manifests itself in the form of addiction, self destruction, war and civil strife, and the hate in the heart of men for anything different. The more support we give each other to seek spiritual nourishment individually, the stronger, healthier, and more peaceful this world will become.
2. I believe there is nothing to fear in opening my heart to others. In turn I believe there is nothing to fear in learning about their beliefs and life experiences. I know what my life experience has been as a female, American, Mormon, friend, mother, and wife but admit that leaves me limited only to that perspective and culture I'm familiar with. I want to be a real neighbor and friend who people can be authentic with.
And is my approach open and respectful or just patronising?
1. This question is tough but I'm trying to figure it out. I know I believe I am being open and respectful. I want to hear what people really think, not just what I want them to think or what I assume they must think. I have no intention of trying to press my beliefs on anyone though I have no hesitancy to share my beliefs with those who want to hear them either out of personal desire to learn more as an option for their own faith or out of sheer curiousity. There are a few unspoken rules in either situation. Myself and anyone involved is welcome to state their beliefs exactly as they are and without apology. They are never to be taken as a personal threat or invitation for debate. Questions to further discuss the statement are welcome as long as they are generated with genuine interest in the answer. Obviously statements of belief from different people of different faiths will be different from each other. Of course! Sometimes even contradicting to the point of being complete opposites. This is where the respect enters a respect driven forum because this is where the passionate spew usually begins. But why? Anyone who cannot handle that situation should look somewhere else for a religious forum, try googling religious debate communities. I'm sure we could find plenty.
2. I still have to tackle the question of whether my belief that a forum can happen without debate is realistic or just patronising. Has anyone got the feeling from me of a please all who is saying "hey, maybe we're all right so let's just sing Kumbaya and give each other hugs." If so then I have been patronising. I do not believe it's okay as individuals to just sit back and chill in regards to questions of life, death, where we came from and where we're going. I cannot respect anyone who says it all just doesn't matter because that is the ultimate disrespect to the beauty and gift of life. There are a lot of different perspectives and ideas about WHY it all matters and even though I disagree with many or most of them I can still respect them. But to embrace ignorance as a course of life? That is to say, to live without thinking about the bigger picture is in my mind the ultimate laziness, too lazy to seek truth. It is that journey for truth that I hope every person will embrace, a journey that offers no promises of what you might find. And what reason could anyone have for avoiding truth if not laziness. But for those who are not lazy is it that they are afraid of what they might find? What it might mean about their own life and the choices they make? And if so, for how long do they think they can avoid the inevitable? I'm afraid that if it is only through death that they face truth, by force rather than by their own seeking, they will then have a sadness to endure of what their life might have been if only they'd faced it head on. The way I see it this draws only one line in the forum and that is between those who have or want to think about their beliefs and those who do not.
The answers aren't very simple but nothing really is below the surface.
So, why a religious forum?
1. I believe a relationship with God is essential to the spiritual health of each and every person on this earth. It is among the first forms of nourishment in the soul of every person. I see an open and respect driven religious forum as one way to combat the spiritual drift or spiritual sickness we see throughout the world that manifests itself in the form of addiction, self destruction, war and civil strife, and the hate in the heart of men for anything different. The more support we give each other to seek spiritual nourishment individually, the stronger, healthier, and more peaceful this world will become.
2. I believe there is nothing to fear in opening my heart to others. In turn I believe there is nothing to fear in learning about their beliefs and life experiences. I know what my life experience has been as a female, American, Mormon, friend, mother, and wife but admit that leaves me limited only to that perspective and culture I'm familiar with. I want to be a real neighbor and friend who people can be authentic with.
And is my approach open and respectful or just patronising?
1. This question is tough but I'm trying to figure it out. I know I believe I am being open and respectful. I want to hear what people really think, not just what I want them to think or what I assume they must think. I have no intention of trying to press my beliefs on anyone though I have no hesitancy to share my beliefs with those who want to hear them either out of personal desire to learn more as an option for their own faith or out of sheer curiousity. There are a few unspoken rules in either situation. Myself and anyone involved is welcome to state their beliefs exactly as they are and without apology. They are never to be taken as a personal threat or invitation for debate. Questions to further discuss the statement are welcome as long as they are generated with genuine interest in the answer. Obviously statements of belief from different people of different faiths will be different from each other. Of course! Sometimes even contradicting to the point of being complete opposites. This is where the respect enters a respect driven forum because this is where the passionate spew usually begins. But why? Anyone who cannot handle that situation should look somewhere else for a religious forum, try googling religious debate communities. I'm sure we could find plenty.
2. I still have to tackle the question of whether my belief that a forum can happen without debate is realistic or just patronising. Has anyone got the feeling from me of a please all who is saying "hey, maybe we're all right so let's just sing Kumbaya and give each other hugs." If so then I have been patronising. I do not believe it's okay as individuals to just sit back and chill in regards to questions of life, death, where we came from and where we're going. I cannot respect anyone who says it all just doesn't matter because that is the ultimate disrespect to the beauty and gift of life. There are a lot of different perspectives and ideas about WHY it all matters and even though I disagree with many or most of them I can still respect them. But to embrace ignorance as a course of life? That is to say, to live without thinking about the bigger picture is in my mind the ultimate laziness, too lazy to seek truth. It is that journey for truth that I hope every person will embrace, a journey that offers no promises of what you might find. And what reason could anyone have for avoiding truth if not laziness. But for those who are not lazy is it that they are afraid of what they might find? What it might mean about their own life and the choices they make? And if so, for how long do they think they can avoid the inevitable? I'm afraid that if it is only through death that they face truth, by force rather than by their own seeking, they will then have a sadness to endure of what their life might have been if only they'd faced it head on. The way I see it this draws only one line in the forum and that is between those who have or want to think about their beliefs and those who do not.
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