Good evening, all. I apologize for being a bit late with tonight's diary, but it's been a very long day here and I regretfully haven't had as much time to plan out tonight's message as I had hoped. Thank you for stopping by our little corner of humanity. All are welcome here--theist and atheist, sinners and saints, straight or gay, young or old--and that's what makes this place special. Read on for more.
Having spent many of my childhood summers in the mountains of northern Arizona, I feel most at peace in the mountains. There's something about smelling the Ponderosa pines in Flagstaff and feeling the gentle summer wind that makes me feel like all is right in the world. Is it god? I don't know. Despite growing up Catholic and spending many years in the Episcopal church, I still have my doubts about whether god exists. But there is much in the world to admire.
Six years ago, I worked at a religious summer camp in the midwest between my junior and senior year of college. I figured the bucolic setting would remind me of those childhood summers. I was wrong. Thanks to mismanagement and human conflict, the camp was mostly not a positive experience. But I did make the acquaintance there of a Quaker woman who told me something that I'll never forget: "Speak to the god in every person and you'll be okay." In other words, we all have something to learn from another. That advice helped me make it through the rest of that summer and has stayed with me since.
I'm also reminded of a quote from one of my heroes, the late Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. The quote is overtly Christian and I hope not offensive to you non-Christians out there, but it sums up my own beliefs about religion nicely: "The goal of the Christian life is not to save your soul but to transcend yourself, to vindicate the human struggle of which all of us are a part, to keep hope advancing." That, in a nutshell, is why I choose to be active in faith, in spite of my doubts, and in spite of all the wrongs that have been committed in the name of religion. My faith is my chance to advance hope.
Tonight, I ask for your thoughts and prayers for various people:
For all who are fathers--Thank you for all that you do (or have done) for your children. It can be a difficult road, and no one is perfect, but you do make a difference. Last weekend was gay pride here in Washington D.C., and it was especially touching to see heterosexual fathers marching along with their gay children in the PFLAG section, and to see gay couples who have chosen to adopt children.
For all who are sick, whether it be in body or mind--Let them find healing, whatever that may be. May the loved ones of the sick help them find strength during difficult times.
For all who are hungry--May they find nourishment.
For our brothers and sisters in Iran--Politics aside, no one should have to fear physical injury or death for peacefully expressing themselves.
For all other needs and blessings--Please express them in the comments below.
Blessings!