I have been thinking about my neighbor a lot lately, but especially today. I was thinking about a conversation we had back in the Summer of 2009. It was a beautiful day out and I decided to sit on a milk crate in the front of the house, instead of in the backyard. I was gravely ill at the time, but also going a bit stir crazy so I had the need for sunshine. I don't remember what the circumstances were, but she had joined me after seeing me there. We were talking about all kinds of things when suddenly, out of the blue, she asked me, "when did you become so religious?" I have to admit I was a little taken aback by the question. It's like being asked why you love someone. Sometimes you just can't verbalize it, you just unabashedly love them. (I'm not talking lust here btw. I'm talking about the real deal). I sat there for a moment and thought about her question but frankly there wasn't a big AHA moment. God didn't speak to me at a burning bush, or on a mountain top or even in a dream. I gradually found my way back to him after quite a few years of running around doing all kinds of nasty and sinful things. The funny thing is, though, that I would always find myself in church on Sundays and at Confession at other times during those less than stellar years. He was never really far from me to begin with. All I could say to her was that it was a gradual thing. My response ended that portion of the conversation.
What I was thinking today was how incredibly personal that question really is. Faith is a very personal thing, isn't it? Some have it; some don't. Maybe she was looking for some kind of guidance from me. I don't know. What I do know is that aside from being personal, faith is also a journey that one must figure out for themselves. My neighbor and I were raised in the same religion. We are the same age. Yet my faith in Christ and the beliefs of my religion's tenets have become a part of my DNA. I can't wait to get to work each day at GloryGloryGifts.com. I love working for God to spread his message and to promote prayer and, of course, get our beautiful products into peoples' hands. I wonder if the new age spiritualism that my neighbor believes in is as satisfying. She believes in Jesus and celebrates the major holidays, and seems content. In hindsight, I know that I missed a golden opportunity of explaining why I was so devout. I wish I could turn back the clock and sit on that milk crate again and tell her the things I have discovered and lived that have made Him an intrinsic part of my life. Maybe I could have had an impact in her own faith journey; maybe not.
Where does this journey begin? It isn't in Wikipedia. It is all right there for her or anyone to read in the Gospels. How can you NOT fall madly and deeply in love with Jesus, when you see how much He loved us while here and still does. How can you live your life devoid of Him and His teachings? How can you not be humbled yet mortified by His agony and crucifixion. You have to choose to be His follower and stick with it; no deviating from the path. I learned that lesson by keeping Him at arm's length for many years. It was not until I read and comprehended the enormity of His life and death that I truly embraced the man and His eternal love.
So after almost 6 years I have an answer for her. I became religious when I chose to live my life the way Jesus taught me how to. It is not so difficult a question to answer after all.
Have a blessed week.
Mare
What I was thinking today was how incredibly personal that question really is. Faith is a very personal thing, isn't it? Some have it; some don't. Maybe she was looking for some kind of guidance from me. I don't know. What I do know is that aside from being personal, faith is also a journey that one must figure out for themselves. My neighbor and I were raised in the same religion. We are the same age. Yet my faith in Christ and the beliefs of my religion's tenets have become a part of my DNA. I can't wait to get to work each day at GloryGloryGifts.com. I love working for God to spread his message and to promote prayer and, of course, get our beautiful products into peoples' hands. I wonder if the new age spiritualism that my neighbor believes in is as satisfying. She believes in Jesus and celebrates the major holidays, and seems content. In hindsight, I know that I missed a golden opportunity of explaining why I was so devout. I wish I could turn back the clock and sit on that milk crate again and tell her the things I have discovered and lived that have made Him an intrinsic part of my life. Maybe I could have had an impact in her own faith journey; maybe not.
Where does this journey begin? It isn't in Wikipedia. It is all right there for her or anyone to read in the Gospels. How can you NOT fall madly and deeply in love with Jesus, when you see how much He loved us while here and still does. How can you live your life devoid of Him and His teachings? How can you not be humbled yet mortified by His agony and crucifixion. You have to choose to be His follower and stick with it; no deviating from the path. I learned that lesson by keeping Him at arm's length for many years. It was not until I read and comprehended the enormity of His life and death that I truly embraced the man and His eternal love.
So after almost 6 years I have an answer for her. I became religious when I chose to live my life the way Jesus taught me how to. It is not so difficult a question to answer after all.
Have a blessed week.
Mare
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