Believe it or not, this is not necessarily a question of religion. I am aware of the many atheists and agnostics, or few as it were given how few people actually hit my blog at all, who visit this tiny corner of the blogosphere. I have done some thinking recently, and I thought about my faith, my family, and my childhood, and what exactly I value. When I really gave it some thought, my answer somewhat surprised me, and it had nothing to do with the Bible or the other holy books or magazines of my faith. It didn't even have anything to do with football, my "other" religion and the one I've been the most faithful to over the years. No, one of the things which I find most holy is made of thirteen ingredients, and it's not because of what those ingredients make, although it is quite good. It may not even be the best of its type, but it, or rather, what it symbolizes, is holy to me. Yes, it's a cake, but more than that, it is the expression of a father's love for his son in one of the only ways he could really express it, and it is that love, as symbolized by a cake, that I find holy above everything else. It is the nights my mother stayed up all night and took care of me when I was sick as a child that I find holy above all, or when my other family members and I would play as children, or when I would smell the pleasant aromas associated with homemade bread making, or the pungency of tomato plants in our garden, or any of a number of great memories from my childhood. If I'm ever asked who my god is, I suppose I will have to be honest and say that some of my gods are my family, regardless (and sometimes because) of their flaws. I may not always like them, but they will forever have my love and respect, though worship, well, not so much.
I'm sorry about the introspective mood. It happens from time to time. In the meantime, enjoy the music. For today, I'm including a bonus video since both seemed to fit my mood quite well.
4 comments:
Wonderful question!
Two things: love, and time.
As someone pointed out, and I can't remember where I heard it - some TV show, maybe - imagine an executive on an airplane that is about to crash. What's he thinking about on the way down? The board meeting he just attended? How much next month's bonus should be? Of course not. He's thinking of his loved ones, and wishing he had more time with them.
I thought I punched the publish button, but maybe not. A second try.
Anyway,I am with you on this. Family is my most sacred possession. Although my Rocky Mountain "Blizzard" bicycle would be a fairly close second.
I like your use of the family and eating together. The moments of breaking bread with family are spiritual moments that we often do not appreciate until years later. The sounds of voices as they prepare to sit. Setting the table. The clink of glasses being filled. Children whining about that yucky stuff on their plate. All music to my ears now. Beautiful Chaos.
Hey Fred.
You hit it on the nose.
Family, before objects, before country, before a fleeting and sometimes remote "God", Family.
I'm tempted to borrow the question and blog my own answer.
I'm a secular guy. The most sacred things to me are the kind you mention here. Humanity, the love of humanity, particular how it relates to family. In short, love is most sacred to me. DOes that get into the realm of the spiritual? It could.
There are other things I hold dear such as music and books, but these come back to human thought, which brings me back to love every time.
The second most important thing to me is nature and the realization that we are an inextricable part of it.
I can see how we may all be very small parts in a bigger picture. I choose not to try and figure out whether that big picture could be called "god" or not. This is because I choose to enjoy and live within the moment as much as I can. I believe it is beyond my capabilities to claim I understand things of such great magnitude as what drives the universe. Whatever it is, it must be grand, to the scale that to ascribe human characteristics to it must be sheer folly; thus if someone asked me "who" my god was, I would not be able to answer because if there is such a thing, I don't think it could be a "who".
Whatever, I feel honored to be here, to be a part of things, and to do what I can to make this a better place for all with whom I interact.
No apologies necessary for sharing with us, MC. Thanks! I enjoy your insightful writing. Posts such as this one allow us all to share deep thoughts and not feel like we are bad people for doing so.
I guess that is one thing I find so disturbing about religion... it tends to cause people to feel they are unworthy or as if they are bad people. Maybe that is a good way to get people to think as a group. I don't mind telling people I haven't been to a church service in over ten years. The day I stopped going to church? I consider it my personal Independence Day.
Thanks for being an independent thinker, MC!
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