What am I spiritually??

Cookie said:
... As a young person I considered myself to be on what is known as 'the path of enlightenment' but since then have stepped on and off and on again more than a few times ...
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Well do I know the feeling - my own high-traction path was jack-hammered out from under me and replaced with a sheet of ice.

Paths shouldn't be followed mindlessly anyway. ;)
 

Shalimar said:
Hmm. Except for a few, I thought that most of us learn/earn our enlightenment through repeated skiing on our nose in the gravel.
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I'm not so sure. I've met a few people that have never faced a challenge to their belief system, and as a result I don't know if it would support them in times of stress. It's always the crucible-fired sword that proves its hardness in battle ...
 

Contradictions in the bible? Yes to those who take the literal word as written. No to those who rationalize all of them by their definitions of what the words really mean. Believe it or don't, it's your choice but I'm betting I won't be smitten for not buying it.
 
Davey Jones said:
I gave up on all religions after losing the wife 8 years ago and 32 year old daughter 6 years ago, I hated it when people say to me "it was Gods will". BS
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I hear you, Davey. Lost my 40 year old son, and my wife of 56 years just this past year. Non-believers. Tough to listen to all of the "God's plan", "She's in Heaven with Mom and Barbara now." "You'll meet again someday" and "Our prayers are with you" stuff. "Sorry for your loss" would have been quite sufficient. Its particularly hard, because I know the words are sincerely meant as a source of comfort. I really care about the people making the comments, so I responded with a polite "Thank you for your thoughts." While trying to have my final moments with my wife, I had to be interrupted to fend off the "help" offered by the hospital priest.
 
Underock1 said:
I hear you, Davey. Lost my 40 year old son, and my wife of 56 years just this past year. Non-believers. Tough to listen to all of the "God's plan", "She's in Heaven with Mom and Barbara now." "You'll meet again someday" and "Our prayers are with you" stuff. "Sorry for your loss" would have been quite sufficient. Its particularly hard, because I know the words are sincerely meant as a source of comfort. I really care about the people making the comments, so I responded with a polite "Thank you for your thoughts." While trying to have my final moments with my wife, I had to be interrupted to fend off the "help" offered by the hospital priest.
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You know, my friend, we know so little about our end here and what it means. I do not buy into religion but I am open to other ideas. We may never know. Our last breath may be the last thing we know, but maybe not. One life may, in fact, not be our end. I understand your loss.
 
Underock1 said:
I hear you, Davey. Lost my 40 year old son, and my wife of 56 years just this past year. Non-believers. Tough to listen to all of the "God's plan", "She's in Heaven with Mom and Barbara now." "You'll meet again someday" and "Our prayers are with you" stuff. "Sorry for your loss" would have been quite sufficient. Its particularly hard, because I know the words are sincerely meant as a source of comfort. I really care about the people making the comments, so I responded with a polite "Thank you for your thoughts." While trying to have my final moments with my wife, I had to be interrupted to fend off the "help" offered by the hospital priest.
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I really hate it when they say that "You will meet again someday". Simply saying "sorry for you loss" is good enough for me.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I have to think of myself as an agnostic. I was raised Catholic and spent 8 yrs. in Catholic school, almost every day of the week in church for one reason or another. When I became an adult, I had no need or desire to be involved with any organized religions. I was born with a good heart, and raised by my parents to respect and be kind to other people and animals. I believe in karma to a great degree, but sometimes see that with evil people who kill and torture, that they don't always get what's coming to them, in other words, what goes around doesn't always come around in those instances.
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I agree with every word you've written there SB... I have said so many times in my life exactly the same thing!! Regularly I'll read or hear people talking on the subject of Karma saying how they believe what goes around come around etc and those who have caused others to suffer should receive bad karma in return..irony at it's best because they are usually the ones who have been causing unnecessary suffering to others in one way or another.
 
Davey Jones said:
I really hate it when they say that "You will meet again someday". Simply saying "sorry for you loss" is good enough for me.
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I know what you mean Davey. The ones I hate the most are "It is God's will" or "God needed another flower in his garden" or something like that!!! I would prefer people just say "I am sorry for your loss" and that is what most people say in the circle of people I know. I see a lot of us on this forum have lost one or more of our children and of course several a spouse. We are all in this together and sometimes we are just numb with pain and have to try and force one foot in front of the other. This forum is great because it's a good place to go and just talk about this and that or laugh or even disagree about something, and escape from our troubles for awhile. :)
 
Debby said:
Sorry, didn't mean to offend. I'll keep that in mind for future reference.
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Debby, I personally don't mind "You will meet again someday" because I HOPE it's true. But I sure understand why others don't want to be told that. One of my friends sent me a privet message on FB and all it said was "My heart breaks for you". That is a good one for a close friend or neighbor.
 
The "best" response - and the one that sent me on my search for a belief system that worked for me - was the one I received from a Catholic priest when I was 12 years old.

My sister had died by a drunk driver on the night of her nursing school graduation, and one month later my father died from a gangrene infection in the intestines. At the funeral, I managed to corner the priest and ask him why this had to happen.

"God wanted them more than you, son" was his answer.
 
SifuPhil said:
The "best" response - and the one that sent me on my search for a belief system that worked for me - was the one I received from a Catholic priest when I was 12 years old.

My sister had died by a drunk driver on the night of her nursing school graduation, and one month later my father died from a gangrene infection in the intestines. At the funeral, I managed to corner the priest and ask him why this had to happen.

"God wanted them more than you, son" was his answer.
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Phil, that must have been really rough for you - and only 12 years old - I'm so sorry.
 
Life is like an English sentence. It has a beginning and an end. The part between the capital letter and the full stop is what really matters. It may be short and meaningful or much longer, full of beauty and harmony. We only have partial control of the content of the sentence but if we could have full control, I wonder what we would write.

I'd like mine to say "Over time she became ever more loving." In the end, I believe that nothing matters more than this.

My mother's life sentence must surely read "She was always laughing and would give you her last shilling if you needed it."
 
Warri, I would have loved to meet your mother. I think your epitaph (if you have one,) should include " she aspired, successfully, to live a life grounded in integrity and kindness." I wonder if you realise the impact you have? I suspect you are far too modest. People such as you, give the walking wounded such as myself, hope. Unknowingly, you provide balance. Oh, boy, choking up.
 
Shalimar said:
For me it all comes down to living the most authentic life possible, within my belief system. I leave theology to the theologians, who often spend lifetimes arguing on how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Lol. I need something more
substantive, "I choose compassion, mindfulness, attempting to manifest in some small way that love is a verb, and that in the final analysis, only kindness matters". For this woman, there is a sense of pattern, order, a silent hum, if will, that connects us all. Beautiful.
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Then you are Christlike. That is what he tried to teach us. If we could leave all the trappings and get back to what He taught, the earth would be a wonderful place.
 
Wow, Shirley, that stopped me in my tracks. I am touched beyond measure by your words. However, this broken being hardly merits standing in that presence. That said, my humanity is all I truly own, and I will not forfeit it for anything.
 
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