Respecting Other People's Beliefs
I remember reading this, and it has stayed with me all day, in a positive way. I don’t share her belief, but I’m happy for her and I can still celebrate in her joy. I wish all could do just that, respecting other people’s beliefs, and at the same time, we must never, ever discourage joy.
We forget why many came to America, which was to escape religious persecution. The primary leaders (founding fathers of our nation) were not Bible-believing Christians; they were deists.
I didn’t make it to church this Easter, although that was my plan (I like the pomp and circumstance). What I honor and continue to celebrate most is the spring equinox. For me, religious holidays are nothing more than special opportunities for getting together with those we love and care about – family, friends, neighbors, etc., to bond and nurture peace, love and goodwill.
Today, I took a walk, one of my favorite things to do, honoring nature’s reawakening. Change is in the air. I don’t just feel it anymore, I can see it on trails, in gardens, etc.
I had written the following a few years ago, and it’s worth sharing today…
We all have impressions of a God that may or may not exist, perceiving this deity as human and/or a spirit. For me, God, is nature. It’s a mass of energy, atoms, and molecules – it’s life, thoughts and people – it’s communities, societies, countries and nations – it’s the cosmos, galaxies, undiscovered universes and beyond. All that I mention is nature.
The difference between your God and mine is there are no judgments, and I can always find forgiveness when I yield. This is accomplished through learning, not making the same mistake twice, being prepared and with the understanding that everything has value, especially humanity, which so many have lost.
When I’m outdoors thriving in my walking meditation I spend a great deal of time looking within for my purpose. I look for how I can be a better person. More importantly, I think about humanity and how much better we would all be if we stopped making it harder for the next guy.
We need to stop defining love and begin living love, and the only way to do this is to realize love is love. It doesn’t matter who you love, but that you love and feel it in return, and when it’s conditional, being brave enough to walk away from that which doesn’t grow your spirit (I know this all too well).
I’ve been thinking about the following Martin Luther King, Jr. quote – "Mankind must put an end to hate or hate will put an end to mankind." I think we all need a lesson on hate. Many are clueless of the meaning. We need to shift our energy in a new direction, and it’s easy to do when you walk with God, the God that’s in nature.
A new week begins, and I’m wishing everyone who reads this joy and happiness. May we all learn to love more and hate less, because only then can we find peace, real peace. Cheers! – paerki
