The Frequency of Faith

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
— Elie Wiesel

Good morning; I hope you enjoyed the holiday; most of us are observing the holiday today, a day off, time to enjoy our family and friends.  Our fourth was pretty benign; we hung out around the house, went down the hill to get some propane, and then headed back up to hang out with some friends and watch fireworks.

Today we plan to hike with PVHT, take it easy and get ready for the upcoming work week. A day of nothing, when was the last time you enjoyed a day of nothing? That is our plan.   Our kids get in town tomorrow; Carly Gail makes her return to Denver after an extended visit with her future husband.

I was taking a walk with my wife the other day and began thinking about how I believe in something bigger than myself.  I do a lot of thinking when hiking; it’s a perfect time to get introspective; hiking is one of our main ways of moving our bodies. So I thought about my time in the church as a child, how that formed my foundation of faith.  

I then thought about how I followed my mother and father’s guidance and took our kids to church. As a result, my kids attend church regularly; I no longer attend service, I see God all around me, and I no longer believe he dwells in sacred buildings.  The church is great, don’t get me wrong, it’s an effective way to build a loving and caring community; my wife and I usually spend our Sunday mornings together enjoying the sights and sounds at 8232 feet above sea level.

I’ve written more than once about Jesus being my quarterback.  I don’t think Jesus is the only quarterback; in my mind, I can allow others to have their quarterback.  Choosing a quarterback is something cultural. If I grew up in a Muslim community, I’m sure my quarterback might be different.  I share that because many people believe there is only one path to eternal life, I think there are multiple paths.

My faith provides comfort when something terrible happens.  I think that if more people leaned into their faith, our world would be a better place.   When I lose a friend or family member, I tend to look at the joy and happiness they gave to me instead of their loss.  Our time on this rock is limited; we have to learn to let things go.  

I think that each person should be able to define their faith as they see fit.  No person should dictate to another how to live their life or provide their interpretation of perceived sacred texts to guide behavior.  I think we are all born with a sense of right and wrong, and those lessons help propel our life forward, making quality choices.  

I meet folks where they are.  If they disagree with a specific behavior, that’s fine; I don’t judge them; I respect their ideas and frame of reference. I think what we are missing in today’s society is respect.  People try and push their thoughts and opinions on others without ever listening to the rationale behind the others person’s belief.

I wrote the other day about a Satanist leading prayer at a public forum.  I thought it a little funny; I think the young man was making a point; he was pushing back on the idea that the town council opened with a prayer to God each time, not recognizing alternative Gods.  Freedom of religion means freedom of all faiths, even those of which you disagree.

Did you know various societies recognize over 2000 Gods? So when you think about an atheist, the belief that there is no God, understand that they deny all 2000 Gods while most people deny 1999. So my friends of faith are only one God away from being an atheist. 

As I look to my left, I can see 180 miles.  The mountains, the water, the trees show me that something more significant than we mere humans created this magical landscape.  Take some time today to scan your surroundings and look at the beauty that surrounds you.  We live in a beautiful world full of mystery and opportunity.

I think I’ll leave it there.  My walk the other day had me thinking about faith, and I thought it might be a topic I could explore when making some morning soup.  So here is my homage to my mind’s interpretation of faith; I hope I didn’t offend you, just giving you my perspective, and I would gladly listen to yours without judgment.

I’ll spend the next 30 minutes on my deck meditating.  Scanning my mind, body, and soul to make sure I’m connecting with myself, my wife, and the world around me.  I find meditation much like prayer, a focused time of letting the mind focus, connecting with a unique frequency of joy, love, and happiness. So cheers, I’ll see you tomorrow!

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
— Elie Wiesel