"F" is for Faith

Welcome to my A to Z Alphabetical Inspirational Word Journey for the month of April. Naturally, there will be a picture quote and music. 

I invite you to join me daily as I explore a word that inspires me and speaks to me in some way, shape, or form. 

See the whole list of bloggers HERE

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In January 2013, I wrote my first blog post about faith. It remains one of my most read blog posts to date.

I have questioned and continue to question any type of organized religion. Especially when religion is used as a reason to hate instead of love.

I have studied the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. My professor at Pace University was a Yale Divinity graduate. He started our course by telling us he could easily teach us about religion. What he could NOT teach us was faith. THAT just was. 

That was more than 20 years ago. 

For a sociology course I studied Wicca - fascinating and of course, the base of so much of "modern day" religion.

After visiting Salt Lake City and befriending so many people who are practicing Latter Day Saints (Mormon), I knew I had to learn more. It is profound to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing. (I have yet to see The Book of Mormon - it's on my list.)

Scientology has been up close and personal on HBO recently and I watched that documentary as well as a bunch of them on YouTube last year. (Nope...I will never get that religion at all...)

I have looked into a limited amount of Jehovah Witness teachings. 

I am fascinated by Buddhism and my studies are just beginning with that.

For the record, I was raised a Roman Catholic. That was on paper only. I was exposed to many other religions by my parents. 

It has taken me a lot longer to learn about faith. MY faith in particular. 

THE single best explanation of heard about faith was from my friend Cara. She said something like, "On my phone, I send and receive texts. I have NO idea how they get from my phone to someone else's phone - they just do. That's faith. You don't know how it works. It just is."

My friend Amy, her son Jake, and another dear friend truly helped me realize the power of faith.

No one person's faith is better than another's. It just is.

These days, if someone asks for prayers, I pray. I have seen the power of prayer before my very eyes and I just cannot be glib about it.

I say a prayer each and every night to God, gods, goddesses, angels, animal guides, spirit guides and anyone or anything else on my board of directors. (We all have a board of directors, don't you know.) I thank the Universe for the awesomeness of the day. I ask for continued excellent health. I ask for white light and love for the people I care about. I ask that my children are safe, healthy, and happy.

My faith continues to evolve as I grow older and more accepting to just believe.

xo

Music Today - this was an adventure into contemporary Christian music for me - not my normal genre. In the end, I decided on Carrie Underwood's latest release.

{"How Great Thou Art" was a close second since it was such an important song at our first retreat.}

As an avid comment reader (you knew that already, right?!) THIS comment really struck a chord with me:

As an atheist, I still like to read all the religious stuff my friends post on Facebook, because I don't want to keep myself in an information bubble.  I want to be knowledgeable of what everyone is ACTUALLY saying, and not just read everything from my own "trusted" (i.e. "biased") news sources.  I want to see more people do the same, and actually spend a little bit of time every day reading things that they... gasp...don't already agree with! (an unimaginable concept, I know.)

Also, I definitely want to see more inspiring artists like Carrie Underwood who aren't afraid to sing honestly about the things they really care about.  Music is meant to come from the heart.  If you try to cater your art to everyone's tastes, the end result will be completely devoid of any meaning.  Rock on, Carrie, and don't let anyone try to stifle your creativity and passion.

There's somebody saying what I'm saying to you
Open my eyes and told me truth
He said: just a little faith and it'll all get better
So I followed that preacher man down to the river
And now I'm changed
And now I'm stronger

https://youtu.be/YVEHJ9C-H9I