Welcoming Belief Without Delusion: A String of Thoughts

It began with a Christmas book I was reading to Flora: The Littlest Christmas Tree: A Tale of Growing and Becoming by Janie Jasin.

In the book, this tiny tree is dreaming of what she will become as she grows, and along the way she learns to revel in the beauty of each moment.

It ends with this beautiful paragraph:

“Thank you, Dear Creator, for Life.

Thank you for Dreams. 

Thank you for Ideas and Thoughts and Feelings. 

Most of all, thank you for choosing me to grow - just for today - 

and to know the Wonder of Your World 

and its many Possibilities.” 

As I thought about how this book touched my heart, I also thought about this idea of a "Creator."

I began thinking that we, as humans, have minds geared toward creating: 

creating stories, 

creating tools, 

creating inventions, 

creating cultures,

creating communities,

creating movements,

creating life,

etc...

In this respect, it seems only natural that we would also think of ourselves as creations.

And, thus, that we have a creator.

And considering I find myself thinking that labeling what I consider consciousness as a human-like deity a bit limiting, I considered how it had still moved my spirit.

Which took me to the thought loop of whether or not being created caused us to have creation-based thoughts and actions, or if it's the other way around.

Inside out, or outside in?

Though I think the answer matters little, I still ponder over it as this wonder of humanity that we can even ask such questions.

And as a wonder, I can see no beginning or end- or at least where it would lie.

Which gives rise to this idea of eternity and a never ending circle. 

And the wonder of these thoughts having no need of a human-like deity* for them to be expansive to my spirit.

(*I feel like I should make note that I have no judgement or shame for anyone who does feel more comfortable with a deity.)

Something inside me "pings" at just being aware of it.

Then, days later, my lovely friend and photographer, Jill England, shared a quote with me from this Instagram account that put it in a whole new perspective for me.  A small piece of it goes like this:

⍣★⍣     

"Enlightenment is not limited to any religion or education. 

      It is a very real experience... 

      The process begins with broadening the context of the 'I am.'  

      Where 'I am' no longer implies just this body with its borders being the flesh.  

      Instead this 'I am'  is the entire living world..."

⍣★⍣

And I realized that, anything that broadens our spirits and our mindful awareness; that expands our sense of love and connection to all things- 

I'M SO FOR IT! ✊

And it seems to make it to where I'm able to embrace this idea of belief in a "Creator."

Even if it isn't my way of seeing or labeling it.

Because I really have come to think that belief is just inherent to who we are as a species.

So it seems like a waste to be completely resistant to it.  I mean, to believe there is nothing to believe in is still a belief, right?

But, then, I can also see where a line could be drawn; I can see why someone might become resistant to this idea of belief.

Because all too often belief comes with delusion.

An unwillingness to be honest with ourselves and to really search within.

Too often belief is intellectualized without being internalized into our spirit.

When a person holds tight to a belief without any sense of inner worthiness, it has potential to become delusional.

Belief without a sense of  your own inner knowing can come to mean that you hold tight to what you're taught because it's what you've been taught- not necessarily because it's the best path for your soul.

On the extreme end, ungrounded belief can lead to heinous acts.

On the lighter end, it can cause people to think they need to throw their beliefs in the "non-believer's" face at every turn.

Which is no surprise if everyone else is taught at a young age- as I was when I was in church- that

 "each time you miss a chance to witness, it is potential blood on your hands."

I think about that now like ::whoa::.

Because, as a kid who was very ungrounded in my own sense of self-worth, I took that to heart!

And I'm pretty sure I was pretty annoying-haha!

But I digress.....

Christianity was the earliest stepping stone on my path to spiritual growth, but I had to step away from it to see it's real purpose in my life.

And because I can now see that undercurrent of wanting to be loved and to be worthy- and to spread that love and worthiness to others- in nearly all forms of belief,

I can now embrace it; embrace belief- play with it, take from it what I need and leave what I don't-without delusion.

And now that I know what feels right for my soul's path- and what doesn't- I can embrace it in others as well.

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