Counting Your Blessings

I didn’t realize how much I was craving spiritual nourishment until I attended Mass yesterday.  Admittedly it has been awhile because I’ve been traveling quite a bit but sitting in that pew for 90 minutes was the most wonderful part of my day.  The sermon spoke about leadership and subtly touched upon the fact that many still question why we even need religion?

Religion is treated like insurance.  You don’t really need it until you actually need it.   It is often referenced in conversation deferentially but not practically.  The sentiment of “I’m spiritual and not religious.  I give to charities, recycle and am a good person,” seems to be the comfortable dogma.  An Intelligence Squared debate even deliberating this notion, ” The world would be better of without religion” and the audience agreed.

What is brilliant about religion is that it offers community, structure and tangibility around a topic that frankly, is a bit philosophically complex.  It is easy to get caught up in rhetoric and its even easier to find the tear that leads to skepticism.  Insert the cliche “ignorance is bliss,” here.

The irony of all this, is that what we crave the most -love and respect, emotions and behaviors that are straightforward concepts seem to slip through our grasp and continue to grow the self-help sections of Barnes & Noble.

Are we hungering for the v. nourishment we reject?  The good thing is there is always breadcrumbs…

Quote of the day:  “Knock, And He’ll open the door Vanish, And He’ll make you shine like the sun..Fall, And He’ll raise you to the heavens..Become nothing, And He’ll turn you into everything.” – Rumi

Neurally yours,

the faithful xo