I have been asked recently if I had 'peace' in my life. Peace. My christian family and friends constantly claim that their faith brings them peace that endures, peace that "passes all understanding".
It makes me chuckle. Let me list some of their logic points:
1. Their faith brings everlasting peace (peace that lasts forever).
2. The world cannot offer such peace.
3. The world can bring joy, but only for a "season" (short while).
This can all be tracked back to biblical verses, just ask a bible thumping christian and I'm sure they'd be happy to show you, but let's take it a step further.
This "everlasting peace" is not evelasting at all. I was there at one time, and now I'm not. This peace doesn't continually wash over me, telling me everything is going to be ok. I have found that it was a peace that was only renewable by practicing those religious activities week in and week out.
I can find that same peace now though through other meditative practices, like listening to music or being with my good friends. Nothing in this world, even religion, can give you that feeling forever and ever, you have to keep going back to it. In fact, I have found that since I departed from religion I have found myself thinking more and more about who I am, than who I was supposed to be concerning my religion. My departure from religion has allowed me to really explore the world, who I am and where I want to go. When I was involved with religion everything in life was focused around it and all I could see is where I was failing to be what I was supposed to be, and that was a person trying to achieve perfection, a goal that was forever unattainable.
Now, the debate has been taken a step further by asking me if I had joy in my life. Well, let me ask those close to me out there. Am I expected to have joy in my life after losing 5 family members in three months time? I think, all things considered, I am doing quite well in the joy category. I know for a fact that no measured depth of faith can overcome that feeling of loss, especially over a two year old nephew. It takes time, whether you find that relief, that peace, that joy, through religion or meditation is your choice, but don't confuse your desired method as the only method available. Take into consideration what you are ritually doing to find that peace or joy in your life and realize that it is what it is, a ritual that you have to keep going back to in order to maintain that feeling of contentment.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Chicago
I just got back from a 7 day business trip to Chicago. I got a chance to really get out and see the town and mingle with the locals. It was a great trip to gain perspective on life here in Kansas City.
First of all, I wish Kansas City wasn't so damn mediocre about sports. Everyone in Chicago, from the eldery to the kids, men and women were all wearing sports memorabilia. In Kansas City you are lucky to see people wear their stuff to a game let alone around the city.
Secondly, if you get bored in Chicago you are a loser. There is so much to do, so much to see. It's amazing what you can find walking two minutes in any direction. Food, clothes, art stores...anything and everything.
Lastly, it was great to see another sub-culture in America. I have never spent a lot of time in another US city. People's priorities in Chicago don't seem to be about moving out of the city, but moving into the city to be closer to the hustle and bustle. Here in KC everyone wants to move out to the quiet suburbs and own some land...till the land. It's all because it has been engrained in our minds from birth here in the midwest. The more remote your location here in the midwest, the better off you are it seems. While in Chicago, the closer you are to all the action the better off you are. How can two cities, only a few hundred miles away from each other be so different? How can 2 groups of similar people think so differently? How can we have such different life values in our hierarchy of self defined wants? It is where we grew up, who raised us and where they grew up. I found it very similar to how groups of people view religion. People growing up in the same areas tend to believe the same thing. There is always a dominant religion in any sub-culture. It permeates from generation to generation.
To sum up my post, not only do we want what those around us want, we also believe what those around us believe because they are around us. It is easy to fall in the trap and be one of the many that just goes with the flow. But to rise above our "instincts" and see life for what it is, that is the beginning of true "enlightenment".
First of all, I wish Kansas City wasn't so damn mediocre about sports. Everyone in Chicago, from the eldery to the kids, men and women were all wearing sports memorabilia. In Kansas City you are lucky to see people wear their stuff to a game let alone around the city.
Secondly, if you get bored in Chicago you are a loser. There is so much to do, so much to see. It's amazing what you can find walking two minutes in any direction. Food, clothes, art stores...anything and everything.
Lastly, it was great to see another sub-culture in America. I have never spent a lot of time in another US city. People's priorities in Chicago don't seem to be about moving out of the city, but moving into the city to be closer to the hustle and bustle. Here in KC everyone wants to move out to the quiet suburbs and own some land...till the land. It's all because it has been engrained in our minds from birth here in the midwest. The more remote your location here in the midwest, the better off you are it seems. While in Chicago, the closer you are to all the action the better off you are. How can two cities, only a few hundred miles away from each other be so different? How can 2 groups of similar people think so differently? How can we have such different life values in our hierarchy of self defined wants? It is where we grew up, who raised us and where they grew up. I found it very similar to how groups of people view religion. People growing up in the same areas tend to believe the same thing. There is always a dominant religion in any sub-culture. It permeates from generation to generation.
To sum up my post, not only do we want what those around us want, we also believe what those around us believe because they are around us. It is easy to fall in the trap and be one of the many that just goes with the flow. But to rise above our "instincts" and see life for what it is, that is the beginning of true "enlightenment".
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