Six years ago you would find me with my elbows on my bed with my hands clapped together, speaking outloud. I was praying.
When I was a child I’d pray everyday to God. My family was (and still is) barely religious. We didn’t go to church, we didn’t have a cross hanging anywhere in the house, and we didn’t say grace. Yet I still prayed. Why, I don’t know.
Fast toward the clock back to present time and you don’t find me doing that anymore. Why? Because I’ve lost faith. I believe God exhists, but I’ve lost faith that he cares about me. Until this week.
This week I had a near death experience. Me and two friends were standing on a treefort. We all stood in the corner, forcing the fort to collapse, sending us falling down 10 feet. Another friend was under the fort as it fell, but it barely missed his head as the fort fell slanted at an angel. There were nails sticking out of the treeforts wood everywhere, none piercing any of us. God was watching over us. He was watching over me.
Finally I began to actually look at the cross in my room. Finally I began to pray. Finally I had faith.
Religion is believing in what we can’t see and don’t understand. I understood that the lack of evidence was a test of faith. I had to renew my religion in God. I had to believe he was there despite not knowing if he was or not. That’s what beiliving is. I regret loosing faith.
For some people, believing in something that they perceive to be larger than themselves is a good thing.
Just try not to confuse being “damned lucky” with faith.
What people believe today, is dictated by what generations of people have honed and culled into a few good present day stories.
If you examine the roots and origins of these stories, you will find a time when people of power wished for an easier way to instill fear amongst their citizens – for a scared citizen is much easier to control.
By: Alex Grogan on July 28, 2008
at 3:42 pm
Hello Danny! Sorry to hear about your recent fall! I’m glad you are okay.
I have to agree with Alex. You may have been “damned lucky”. I will say I am for believing in something, but necessarily a “Christian” god is another thing. Since you like reading, why don’t you check out the origins of Christianity and other organized religions. Most of them are based on old legends and myths from previous religions.
Personally, I guess you could consider me “pagan” because I don’t follow any of the main religions, but I really like Buddhism and Pantheism. I know I am here for a reason and I know I am not alone. I just can’t subscribe to the Christian religion. You’d be surprised how many wars were started over religion and continue to this day.
I bet you didn’t know this, but I have a son who is going to be 13 in December. I had him young, but that’s a story for another time. One thing I can say is that while his father is Catholic, I have always encouraged him to learn about all religions and decide what he feels is right, whether it is what his dad or I believe in. In the end, it is your belief. I would rather my son be informed and know about everything instead of just believing something because it is the “norm” or because someone says that is the way it is.
Be careful and be safe!
By: OneLuvGurl on August 1, 2008
at 4:14 pm