I thought to stand upon the Hermit’s hill,
Hold high the beacon and o’er light the path below.
Instead I am the Hermit’s star,
The light within the Lamp,
Suspended from the Eternal’s hand.
ct 10/94
Un-churched
Unchurched is a term that was used during several Presidential elections referring to those of us who are not officially affiliated with a church or religion. The implication, by tone of voice and physical and facial stance, was that the unchurched were somehow not spiritual or moral and therefore were to be looked down upon. While it may be true that those of us who are unchurched are not affiliated with a church or official religion, we are not necessarily agnostic or atheist. We ARE, in our own ways, spiritual and moral.
Personally, I do not consider myself to be a Christian, or a Buddhist, or a Muslim, or a Wiccan, or an Agnostic, or an Atheist, or even a Spiritualist.
I do, however, hold myself to a high standard of spiritual integrity and morality which, while simple (maybe even simplistic), is a challenge to follow.
* I believe that God expresses and experiences Itself through and as everything; conscious, subconscious, superconscious, and what we think of as unconscious (rocks, whatever we call nature, mosses and plankton, animals (vertebrates and invertebrates), insects, people, stars, black holes, the spaces between atoms, machinery, furniture, etc.).
* I posit every thought and every action from the paradigm that God is all there is. Not that there is only one god but that there is ONLY God. (Say the two phrases to yourself, or out loud, and feel the difference!)
* God is Love; Perfect Love, if you will. Therefore, I look upon the world’s activities as Perfect Love in action, or unfolding, regardless of what it looks like.
* I am a proponent of equity. Not equality, for humans are not equal in skills or capacity, interests or needs. They are, however, equal in value. I particularly like this statement from the Marin Health and Human Services site: “Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that a person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.”
* I claim the right and the accompanying responsibility to be who I am without defending or explaining myself, and therefore give that same right (and responsibility) to everyone else, without judgment.
* I consider that the magical mix of human vagaries, faults, failings, generosity, and creativity of people are what makes them human, humane, and beautiful, and should be celebrated often. (Quan Yin calls them/us Humans-in-Being.)
I follow these paradigms to the best of my ability on any given day, or moment. I am grateful when I do, and forgive myself when I don’t, and am at peace with myself in any case. I wish the same for each of you!
Blessings,
Charlotte
edited by Monique Huenergardt of MoReadsYou.com