  Spiritual
This week: What Do YOU Believe? Edited by: Sophy  
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Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Writing Your Faith Statement - What do YOU Believe?
Many years ago I wrote a statement of faith as part of an exercise for a church group I was part of. I came across it recently and found it hard to believe I had written it. What I held in my hands, written more than 25 years earlier, bore no resemblance to what I currently believe (or don't believe), and if I didn't see my name on it, I wouldn't have known it was mine. I decided to write a new belief statement, reflecting where I am now in my current spiritual journey. And what I discovered is that while there are certain core values that I maintain still, there has been a pleasant and realistic evolution of my faith throughout the year.
Change is normal - in fact, it's inevitable. If we don't evolve, we die, figuratively as well as literally. And this writing exercise gave me not only a glimpse into who I used to be, but also how I've incorporated all of it into who I am now, along with other variables and life experience. My plan now is to save both of my statements, and write another one in five years to see how they compare. Not only will this be a good writing exercise, but it will also have spiritual benefit as I can look back and view where I've been and who I'm becoming.
Here's my most recent statement - I hope you will share yours as a comment to this newsletter so I can share them next month. Please don't comment about my statement in terms of your concern for my eternal salvation or lack thereof because you perceive my statement as wrong - I will not share those comments in my newsletter next month. The point of this newsletter and exercise is not to argue theology or tell me I'm wrong. The point is to inspire your own writing of your own truth, whatever that may be, without comment or comparison to others, and compare it to your past and hopefully future evolutions of your faith experience.
My Statement
As I've grown in my faith and development as a human being, I’ve discovered inspiration in acknowledging what I don’t know rather than claiming certainty. For instance, I don’t know for certain if there is a god or an afterlife. I am content to leave it at that, rather than endlessly pursuing elusive questions, and live my life in a way that promotes the well being of others, and let the rest sort itself out at the end.
Please recognize that admitting that I don't know for certain doesn’t equate to “I don’t think or believe there is a god or afterlife.” There may be, but I honestly don’t know. It seems enough to confess that the Sacred is mysterious, perhaps unknowable. Thus, I am agnostic (without knowledge) about many things, including God. Is there a transcendent, creative will beyond the physical universe? I simply don’t know. With age I find it more valuable to EXPERIENCE the sacred than to pursue understanding and certainty.
Yet, it is also empowering to acknowledge what I find persuasive. I am persuaded there is a sacred aspect about the universe. I experience it emotionally in a way I can’t know it cognitively. For instance, I understand the basic concepts of physics with my intellect. But I am moved that elements forged in the caldron of stars have coalesced into myriad life forms on our planet. It touches my heart to consider that humans have evolved to the point where periodic elements reflect on their place in the cosmos. For reasons I can’t define, knowing that makes me want to be a better person.
Similarly, I am awed by the capacity of many species to organize for the common good. In particular, we humans sometimes rejoice in goodness that happens for others. We often empathize with their suffering, redirecting our behavior for their benefit. We occasionally exercise self-restraint for the well being of other species in deference to their intrinsic value. We sometimes even make sacrifices for the well being of others. The expression of such good will feels sacred.
For me, understanding the historical Jesus remains essential for cultivating my spirituality. I realize that describing myself as agnostic will provoke some to conclude I am not Christian. I won’t argue the point. I remain daunted at the challenge of following Jesus’ example. But whatever label that brings, Jesus’ vision of a world organized by mutual commitment to the common good rings true. It has the feel of the sacred, whatever mystery that good word might imply. And being at peace with what I can’t know, I’m inclined to let that suffice for pursuing a faithful life.
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Here are some responses to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (December 11, 2013)" about the annual Holiday letter:
From ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy  :
I love your newsletters; they inspire me to write a poem or a story or say a prayer or just be thankful for Sophy. Thank you for the attention you give to your readers, our little notes are meant to touch your heart a bit, like you touch ours. Have a happy new year all twelve months; may greater love find you in 2014 in a wonderfully surprising way. ann
Thank you so much, your kind words are much appreciated! 
   
From Quick-Quill  :
HMM in response to last I thought the issue was to read or not to read before a meeting began (to convene). I meant prayer at the beginning of a meeting and readings at the end.
This NL-I've been so busy this season and it is a week shorter than usual. I did the cards for the Church friends and got them into their cubby holes. That's as far as I got. None mailed and the tree is up but no lights. I'm so far behind this year.
I would like to issue a writing challenge. What would 2015 be like if there were no Christmas? If a law were passed January 2014, no Christmas at ALL, Nada, nothing.
Thanks for the prayer clarification.
I have a confession - I didn't get my annual letter done, or send cards - and I think it's probably too late now. Maybe I'll send one for Valentine's Day?
Interesting writing challenge - I'd like to hear more about why you want to issue this challenge? How would it change things? Interesting to think about for sure!
From Donnamae :
Annual Christmas newsletters have been the butt of jokes, derided as being merely a means to brag about one's children and other accomplishments. But I think it's sadly a disappearing custom, like handwritten letters and cards.
I remember the thrill of receiving a handwritten letter in the mail from a beloved and distant friend. In my girlhood, we wrote to pen pals, even though we had never met them, just for the fun of communicating with someone regularly.
I will always enjoy receiving a personal missive through the mail, even if it was mass-produced for the sender's many friends and relatives. It still tells me that person took the time to write it out and send it, rather than mass-produce an e-mail.
I love them too - and I still get dozens of them. Not personalized to me, other than perhaps a handwritten note on the card or at the bottom of the letter. I appreciate them all, and feel guilty for not sending any this year.
Thanks for all your comments - keep them coming! Until next time, Sophy |
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Spiritual: January 08, 2014 Issue [#6087]
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