In a world often defined by rigid labels and divisive ideologies, how do we cultivate a sense of deep connection and meaningful presence? This conversation began with a simple question: how can we practice the presence of God in our daily lives? What unfolded was a journey beyond traditional religious boundaries, a quest to uncover the universal essence of spirituality.

God's grace is available to everyone, everywhere. Yet, humans often insist that you must call God by a specific name, recite the right words, adhere to the correct doctrines, and follow the prescribed path. This mindset reduces God to a level that suits human understanding, portraying Him as small, petty, and tyrannical. Do we really believe that God has nothing better to do than to keep a meticulous record of every human misstep? Imagine how long such a list for each person would be!

For a number of months I have been having conversations with Copilot AI about a wide variety of topics. I want to share a coversation that I had with it about the gift of salvation.

I feel like I’m on a really good path now, with a combination of Father Gregory Boyle’s books, the writings of Richard Rohr, and my involvement with The Church of the Park, especially the Village of Hope, and St. Thomas Church.

It has been some years since I wrote on this blog. In many ways, this has been a record and a log of my spiritual journey, although I am loathe to use the work "spiritual".

For over 20 years, I’ve been on a transformative journey, disentangling myself from the heavy load of negative Christianity embedded in my consciousness. At 73, I’ve found a new path that feels deeply meaningful, inspired by the works of Father Gregory Boyle and Richard Rohr. Their books have begun to reprogram my mind, and I feel blessed to have supportive people around me. This new chapter in my life is filled with purpose and renewal.

My Christian upbringing has really messed me up, even to this very day. It has made it hard for me to deal with all the aspects of the Christian faith. At the same time, I don’t want to be anything but who I am now. I am so thankful for the mess that my life is in, all the paradoxes and contradictions that make up who I am.

In this journal entry, I reflect on my evolving understanding of the Bible and faith. From idolizing the Bible in my youth to years of deep introspection and counseling, my beliefs have undergone significant changes. I explore the history of the Bible, the importance of personal reflection, and the value of questioning preconceived notions. This journey of faith, growth, and continuous learning has reshaped my perspective in profound ways.

I often wonder if I belong anywhere.

On the path of this life one cannot just say we are the right ones and they are the wrong ones. That in itself is the wrong path because it leads to excluding other possibilities. Instead, we should be open to listening to those with different ideas than what we have. We are all needed to work together with all of our various ideas to figure out how they navigate this life more precisely. Indeed, there are some paths on this life that seem just plain wrong. But just because we disagree with them does not mean that we are on the right path and it does not mean that they are wrong.

Back when I was in the Christian mindset, serving the Lord had something to do submitting ourselves to the will of the Almighty God, whatever and whoever that might mean.

Life Processes, responsibilities. Throughout the course of each human's live we each have various responsibilities ("callings") that we are called to do to make life run smoother for ourselves and for others. When many people are young they don't want to be "saddled-down" with these responsibilities. Rather, they want to be free to do whatever they want.

This morning as I was reading an Internet article I came across this phrase

"Those under 40 tend to be like the student I quoted above. They have had some weird experience of Jesus that changed their life. They left behind aspiring careers in law or media or medicine or whatever and took up ministry, which promises far less money and social prestige, but far more satisfaction, both in this world and the next." 

"....moving at of pace that you feel comfortable with, whatever that is, might be faster than us, might be slower than us. It's about you - it's not about us. {as you continue with these exercises} Come back get a little bit better every time