This showed up on one of my feeds last week. I thanked the person who posted and immediately shared it with a short message about how this hit me – this truth – this short message.
This last week I have been using my “Happy Holidays” voice at the grocery store, the Pak Mail shop, out walking in the neighborhood, and anywhere anyone greeted me with a “Merry Christmas”. So far no one has stopped to ask me for more information or why the more generic response. No one has asked for details about what I believe or what traditions I follow. And, I must ask myself, if they did – what would I say?
I love the idea about there being 7 major world religions. I love the notion that historically many faiths existed for fathoms of time before my conservative childhood religion. I love hearing about how the ‘holidays’ are celebrated all over the world. But I don’t really know the fundamentals – details that would help me understand the belly of those others beliefs. What lies underneath the symbols and songs?
I wonder what would change if I did?
I wonder how I would grow as a person if I dove deeper into one of the ‘other’ traditions?
I wonder how, understanding other religions and practices might deepen my own practice of Unitarian Univeralsim?
I wonder what it would be like for me to truly understand and live with respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which I am a part?
~Lydia Patrick
Tis the season that most people take a stand on their belief’s, they dig into the fundamental story of their faith and renew the convictions that their religion has built for them.
I think you, Lydia, are a wonderful exception to this practice. You think larger than that.
You don’t seem to “own” one or the other. You pass through, you borrow, you try it on, you maintain an openness to the Experience of the Holidays. This is the “deeper” practice. just being aware that there are so many pathways. Like Rumi said, “we are all just walking each other home”.
Yes, I do also wonder. I know about Ramadan because I use to be Muslim. I even told my ex husband that I may fast this year with him if my health allows it. My sons fiancé is Jewish and I’m hoping to celebrate Haunakka with them soon. I have always wondered about other faiths. Thank you for sharing.