I've never really blogged before, unless you count posting on Facebook. That, I have done way to much, but has ultimately, led me here. Why blog? Well, I think I have some things to say, some things to share about the things I love. I have no delusions that I have any special insight into anything that I will blog about, but there are just some things I love, and maybe you, the reader, love these things too.
For instance, I love to read. I read for pleasure like most people do, but my pleasure in reading is to gain knowledge. So, I don't necessarily read novels. The novels that I have read, really don't seem to teach me much. There are exceptions though, particularly when it come to John Steinbeck. I've read all of his books. I like his characters because they remind me of people I know or have known. I read to learn, to grow, to ultimately be a better person, because I think the more you know the more complete you can become.
My latest list of books started with questions about my faith, religion, and Christianity. I find myself being frustratingly religious at times, but ultimately spiritual. What I mean is that for a long time I have searched for God and meaning in the traditional ways that most westerners search: in church. As hard as I've tried, I never have fit into the church; never felt like I really belonged there. I've struggled with the teachings. And, for good reason, what I've been looking for isn't there. There is a fellow by the name of Rob Bell to thank for revealing that to me. Rob has written some books that I have read and certainly recommend: Velvet Elvis, Sex God, and Jesus Wants to Save Christians. He is also the maker of a series of video shorts addressing various spiritual/religious subjects called Nooma. I recommend every one of them.
Rob has a substantial reading list himself (look on the Nooma website), which I have bought and read (most of them) too. So what have I discovered in all this reading? Pretty simple really. The Bible is not inerrant as I was raised to believe. Simple, but profound and very, very liberating. Liberating in that through years of attempting to resolve conflicts within myself about the contradictions I had discovered are now validated by people who would know. Profound in that I will never accept any teaching ever again without validation. And profound in that it has led me away from today's church.
I don't know about you, but I want to live a life full of peace and love. I don't want to live in fear. I don't want to live in condemnation. That's what I see in the church: fear and condemnation. I see the teachings of Jesus being ignored or changed. I don't want anything to do with it. I've had to learn how (and am learning) to live a life full of peace and love. I've had to learn how to love myself again. How am I doing it? Several ways. First, I have removed myself from the people, places and things that project the opposite. I have decided to surround myself with the people, places and things that are positive, those full of peace and love. That doesn't mean I'm living the life of a monk; negativity is still around but... Second, I have changed my practice. I don't take anything personally. I don't make assumptions. I discern rather than judge. I am mindful of the very moment I am in. I don't live in the past. I don't live in the future. I am grateful. I practice flexibility in my body (through yoga) and I practice the possibility of the same idea of flexibility in other areas of my life, especially relationships. I practice loving myself (rather than loathing myself as is the Christian practice). I practice acceptance. I choose a spiritual life rather than a religious one. I see that spiritual life extending well beyond the confines of just one view. I am a bit of a holy rogue searching for what truly matters.
Here's more of my current reading list (partial):
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
The Bible: A Biography by Karen Armstrong
Worlds Religions by Huston Smith
The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings by Thich Naht Hahn
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Love Wins by Rob Bell
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