Thoughts on God...

I wonder… Am I afraid to talk about God? I mean do I only talk about God around friends who I know will agree with me? I’ve never been the evangelical type. I don’t have all the answers. I can’t hit someone over the head with a Bible and make them believe what I believe. When pressured I’ve always described myself as a “witness by example” Christian. I don’t walk up to strangers and ask them if they’re right with the Lord. Instead I hold the door open for a woman carrying boxes, or take lunches to the homeless and buy medicine for the sick.

I’m not vocal about my faith, but I do try to show it through my actions. Sometimes I feel like Christians are the hardest on each other. All the different denominations act one and other as if there is only one way to do things. In my past I’ve been to Jewish services, Catholic services and Pentecostal services.

Judaism taught me to love the Torah. I learned how to love the law and recognize each commandment as a gift from God. Judaism is like visiting your Grandpa. You hear such wonderful stories from this old man; and sometimes you’re intimidated by him and sometimes you don’t understand him but you’ve always got a deep love and respect for him.

Then there are the protestant churches. They are so much fun. The worship is amazing and people are so joyful. The services give you goose bumps every Sunday. It’s like being at a big potluck dinner. I learned here to truly enjoy God’s gifts and to be thankful each day for his blessings. These people with their Jesus fish and evangelical t-shirts are so proud of Jesus.

Then in the Catholic Church, where I am now, I am learning why it is called a service. You go to mass for God. You kneel humbly and come to Him as a servant. You pray, not for yourself but for the entire world. You don’t get it right away, but the words you say in a Catholic mass are fueling your heart. I feel like these services aren’t for me to “get something” from a sermon, but for me to offer something to God.

I’m sure that other churches have their strengths as well. Perhaps there is no church that gets everything right. As I experience different religious traditions I feel like a plant in a garden. I am watered and fertilized and sometimes the gardener speaks affirmations to me. All of these things encourage my growth.

So right now I have a mix. I read from the Old Testament each morning, I go to mass on Sundays, I listen to Hillsong when I want to worship and read Beth Moore’s devotional each night. I guess in a lot of ways I’m a spiritual mutt and I’m okay with that.