It is not uncommon for people to state that they belong to a certain religion and yet hold one or more views that are contrary to what he or she believes. I can tell you that I am a Christian and that I belong to a certain denomination. Yet, my belief system, is a synthesis of ancient Greek philosophy, post-modern existentialism plus some other Eastern thoughts besides the Christian creed. Yes, it does look more like a case of confused identity! Besides, there is so much more to learn in life. I guess, the best method to reveal who you really are, your thoughts and belief system, is to write them down, as what I am doing now online.
In fact, this blog is meant to be a spirituality blog, designed to help people with spiritual and emotional needs. It does not represent the views of any organised religion, as I do not wish to unintentionally offend anyone or cause misunderstanding. I also do not want to project a 'holier than thou' image of myself. Controversies on religious matters have often led to an 'us versus them' mentality which is very divisive. I see my attachment to spirituality as something of a passinate pursuit - believing that God is everywhere and only when you truly believe are you capable to connect to Him. As I have mentioned in my earlier post, imagine yourself standing at a beach and looking up to the beautiful evening sky. At that moment, you would feel that you are really not that significant and that the universe is much, much larger than you. As a fellow traveller in this short life, I can say that much of life is about suffering, although it is also only temporary. This is evidenced by the fact that many people in parts of this world are still living in poverty. A child dies every 5 seconds due to poverty related illnesses. Every minute, a child or newborn is diagnosed with HIV. I dream of one day when we will enter into a world without poverty and diseases.
Where do all the evil stuff in this world come from? Much as I would like to avoid talking about it, there is, at the back of my mind, an admission that we, because of our human nature, have an intrinsic dark side in us. This dark side is something that many of us would not want to come out and openly confess about. However, do not be afraid to bring it before God; His Light will illuminate us and overcome our sins, our weaknesses and imperfections. There is no point being pesimistic or have an obsessive guilty conscience about our sinful nature as if we are born to be wicked by nature as some people would want us to believe. That's why sometimes we hear people say that 'children are all snakes', or that if a man meets a misfortune, that's because of his hidden sinful past.
Therefore, because of who man is, when one comes before the Almighty, who is benevolent and all Light, there is at once, a feeling of fear as well as a sense of the sublime. We tremble as we worship God. More than just a fiction for children, here is an excerpt from the book The Wind in the Willow, by Kenneth Grahame which illustrates perfectly what I mean:
`This is the place of my song-dream, the place the music played to me,' whispered the Rat, as if in a trance. `Here, in this holy place, here if anywhere, surely we shall find Him!'
Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him, an awe that turned his muscles to water, bowed his head, and rooted his feet to the ground. It was no panic terror--indeed he felt wonderfully at peace and happy--but it was an awe that smote and held him and, without seeing, he knew it could only mean that some august Presence was very, very near. With difficulty he turned to look for his friend. and saw him at his side cowed, stricken, and trembling violently. And still there was utter silence in the populous bird-haunted branches around them; and still the light grew and grew.
Perhaps he would never have dared to raise his eyes, but that, though the piping was now hushed, the call and the summons seemed still dominant and imperious. He might not refuse, were Death himself waiting to strike him instantly, once he had looked with mortal eye on things rightly kept hidden. Trembling he obeyed, and raised his humble head; and then, in that utter clearness of the imminent dawn, while Nature, flushed with fulness of incredible colour, seemed to hold her breath for the event, he looked in the very eyes of the Friend and Helper; saw the backward sweep of the curved horns, gleaming in the growing daylight; saw the stern, hooked nose between the kindly eyes that were looking down on them humourously, while the bearded mouth broke into a half-smile at the corners; saw the rippling muscles on the arm that lay across the broad chest, the long supple hand still holding the pan-pipes only just fallen away from the parted lips; saw the splendid curves of the shaggy limbs disposed in majestic ease on the sward; saw, last of all, nestling between his very hooves, sleeping soundly in entire peace and contentment, the little, round, podgy, childish form of the baby otter. All this he saw, for one moment breathless and intense, vivid on the morning sky; and still, as he looked, he lived; and still, as he lived, he wondered.
'Rat!' he found breath to whisper, shaking. `Are you afraid?'
`Afraid?' murmured the Rat, his eyes shining with unutterable love. `Afraid! Of HIM? O, never, never! And yet--and yet-- O, Mole, I am afraid!'
Then the two animals, crouching to the earth, bowed their heads and did worship.
