My parents brought me up with a Christian upbringing that I
strongly believe in. They told me that, while I was here on earth, I would lead
two lives. A physical life and a spiritual life. That, at some point, my body
would wear out and my physical life would come to an end. My spiritual life,
however, would continue on in a far better place. That belief has brought me
immeasurable comfort, and especially now, with the loss of a loved one who has
gone on before me
I have always tried to be tolerant and understanding of
others’ beliefs and religions. I have tried to not use my writing as some bully
pulpit to try to tell others how to live or what to believe. I have friends who
do not believe in a life hereafter, and I respect that, even though I don’t
personally believe that way. I have listened while people have ridiculed my
beliefs, and I always try to go back in my mind to that place that tells me
they are entitled to their opinion. I can always walk away from them if I don’t
want to hear it and I have.
The people I dislike the most are the ones that are
hypocrites and climb on the Christian bandwagon for attention but don’t walk
the walk, or talk the talk. They do those of us, who are Christians, a great
disservice. I have found that most religions try to make us better people, but
I recognize that there are many people who don’t subscribe to Christian views. They are wonderful people, and great
members of our society, and I applaud them. For me, however, my faith is a
booster shot—that I think makes it easier for me to live because it is my moral
compass—and I don’t have to leave it all up to my weak conscience to keep me in
line.
Many years ago, I listened to a man who told me I was crazy
to believe in some higher deity. He went on to rail against organized
religions. For a long time I just listened, but the longer he talked the
angrier he got because I refused to be drawn into his conversation. Finally, I could control myself no
longer, and I asked him what it was he despised so much about Christianity. His
answer was “they had no right to tell me what to do, or to take my money, or
ask me to go to church.” I asked him if they had come to his home on Sunday
morning, dragged him out of bed to go to church and took money out of his
wallet. He didn’t answer me and he stomped away.
We live in a big homogenous society with believers and
non-believers and people of all faiths living and working side-by-side, day in
and day out. When we are tolerant of each other’s beliefs—whatever they are—it
goes a long way in making peace and harmony amongst us. John Lennon sang in his
song, “Imagine,” You may say that I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one. I hope someday
you’ll join us and the world will be as one. His lyrics start out
talking about a world without a heaven, but I am not so sure he isn’t talking
about a heaven right here on earth. As for me, in the meantime, if I die and
there is no heaven, I will have been a better person while I was here on earth,
for believing as I do. I truly believe that if I have a talent for writing, God
gave it to me. I always want to use it for good things.
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