(no subject)
"I really miss you. But the you I miss I don't want back either." (NakedPastor)
i am learning to re-define what i believe about things. i think religion can be helpful but is not necessary for faith. i believe in truth - and in truths such as redemption, second chances, mercy, grace, and above all love. i believe in these things more than any doctrine or dogma. i beleive these are the sacred things and that chasing after them is more important than mastering any one particular theology. i believe that love wins and that the details dont always matter. i believe in making mistakes and in growth. i believe in messiness and in clumsiness. i believe in life. but most of all, i believe in love.
faith isnt having religion or following rules or associating with certain people in certain buildings. it is trusting that love will conquer fear, hatred, and oppression. that communities can support and encourage in the dark of the night. faith is trusting that these things are possible and attainable. faith is believing one can never run out of second chances, and that mercy covers all mistakes. that the seeking is more important than the finding.
i do not want a faith - nor a life, for that matter - that is motivated and inspired and controlled by fear and guilt.
i believe in redemption and second chances. i also believe in eliminating the negative and toxic things in my life. contrary to my initial thought, these two beliefs are not mutually exclusive. if someone perpetually takes and hurts and behaves selfishly, i can decide to eliminate that person from my life. to stop enabling the abuse. i don't have to avoid - i simply choose not to allow this behavior or myself to be manipulated. i will not engage. but, if the person changes or is genuinely working to correct the behavior, i may also choose to begin engaging with them again, little by little. simply because i believe in second chances does not mean i have to be the one giving and being harmed by them all. i am not responsible for other people's choices. i am only responsible for my own. being responsible means choosing to love and protect myself.
"You have come to realize, after serious study, thought and brutal self-honesty, that the beliefs you’ve held on to are now bankrupt. They used to be valuable to you. But now they are worthless. You know the honest thing to do is to dump them.
"But the market demands, silently or otherwise, that you hold on to the beliefs you’ve held all these years. It says that even if they’ve lost value, it is only temporary and that, given time and patience, they will regain and even increase their value. The market says that you should not let them go, and that if you do, you will pay a very high price for it in the long run. Your gut tells you that the market is predominantly motivated by fear.
"What are you going to do? Listen to the market? Or trust your own instinct and intelligence?" (NakedPastor)
"Faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.: - Edward Tellar
i am learning to re-define what i believe about things. i think religion can be helpful but is not necessary for faith. i believe in truth - and in truths such as redemption, second chances, mercy, grace, and above all love. i believe in these things more than any doctrine or dogma. i beleive these are the sacred things and that chasing after them is more important than mastering any one particular theology. i believe that love wins and that the details dont always matter. i believe in making mistakes and in growth. i believe in messiness and in clumsiness. i believe in life. but most of all, i believe in love.
faith isnt having religion or following rules or associating with certain people in certain buildings. it is trusting that love will conquer fear, hatred, and oppression. that communities can support and encourage in the dark of the night. faith is trusting that these things are possible and attainable. faith is believing one can never run out of second chances, and that mercy covers all mistakes. that the seeking is more important than the finding.
i do not want a faith - nor a life, for that matter - that is motivated and inspired and controlled by fear and guilt.
i believe in redemption and second chances. i also believe in eliminating the negative and toxic things in my life. contrary to my initial thought, these two beliefs are not mutually exclusive. if someone perpetually takes and hurts and behaves selfishly, i can decide to eliminate that person from my life. to stop enabling the abuse. i don't have to avoid - i simply choose not to allow this behavior or myself to be manipulated. i will not engage. but, if the person changes or is genuinely working to correct the behavior, i may also choose to begin engaging with them again, little by little. simply because i believe in second chances does not mean i have to be the one giving and being harmed by them all. i am not responsible for other people's choices. i am only responsible for my own. being responsible means choosing to love and protect myself.
"You have come to realize, after serious study, thought and brutal self-honesty, that the beliefs you’ve held on to are now bankrupt. They used to be valuable to you. But now they are worthless. You know the honest thing to do is to dump them.
"But the market demands, silently or otherwise, that you hold on to the beliefs you’ve held all these years. It says that even if they’ve lost value, it is only temporary and that, given time and patience, they will regain and even increase their value. The market says that you should not let them go, and that if you do, you will pay a very high price for it in the long run. Your gut tells you that the market is predominantly motivated by fear.
"What are you going to do? Listen to the market? Or trust your own instinct and intelligence?" (NakedPastor)
"Faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.: - Edward Tellar