Why Bother?

When people ask about religion, often the conversation focuses on church and denomination. We are quick to talk about what we believe about God, about Christ, about what it means to be Christian, about what we must do. I've been on the receiving end of many such conversations as acquaintances endeavoured to 'save' me, and I say that with no disrespect.

Such conversations are often remarkably ineffective, to the extent that courses and workshops on how to 'win souls for Christ' abound. What I've observed, from the literature and well-meant efforts of others to convert me, is that their efforts focus on the least Godly aspects of religion: exclusivity (ours is the right path, everyone else is wrong, we are the ONLY church of Jesus,etc.), judgment (you are on the wrong path, you need to convert or face eternal damnation), obligation (you must do these things to be a 'true' Christian, you must read 'this' Bible) and fear (failing to join *this* church or do what *I* tell you will result in your eternal damnation).

Where is the joy of walking with God? Where is the consolation of God's embrace? Where is the freedom of knowing God's everlasting and boundless love for you?

This is what God offers us, both within the bounds of the various religions and denominations as well as outside them. If God is loving, then can we not have confidence that welcoming God into our lives brings us all these things? In my experience, we absolutely can.

When we acknowledge God active in our lives - because it is not God's absence but our unawareness of God's presence that drives us to living a godless life, then our lives take on added shine. We become aware of not only goodness within others but within ourselves. We become sensitized to the extraordinary power of ordinary things. We find new good to appreciate and old blessings we'd overlooked. And throughout it all, despite our aches and pains and earthly worries, the sweetness of God's love for us is an ever-present help and support to us.

And life, we discover again and again, is good.

Wherever you are, whatever your belief system or philosophy, it is my prayer and that of my church that you may discover for yourself Goodness at work in yourself and your life.
jean+