Hello,
I am still reading your book - and what a read!
I wondered in your explanation of your journey, what you meant by "outgrowing your faith"? While a Catholic at a traditional parish, we were previously in leadership at New Jerusalem, founded by Richard Rohr. This gave us, space for God, unencumbered by the Church's shadow side. I understand outgrowing the church itself, or even Christianity. But some Higher Power? A bigger story than mine?
My own daughter doesn't ask me to pray for things- she says, send this out to the universe, mom. In fact she asked me to speak at her wedding and the only stipuation was to not use the "G" word. She likely thought I would not be up to the task. But heavens, when you talk about love, it resonates no matter what your beliefs.
Maybe I'm impatient for the ending, but I assume that since it's a journey, this life of ours, your thoughts have probably evolved even further, beyond the last page of the book. Thanks for so graciously opening your life and story to me.
Warm Regards,
Chris
Dear Chris,
I'm so glad that you're enjoying my book!
It's terrific that you've had a connection with New Jerusalem and Richard Rohr. I stayed for a while, a dozen years ago, with Rohr's community in Albuquerque, and found them quite wonderful.
I certainly have not outgrown meaning or purpose in life, or engagement with something larger than myself. I just no longer attribute meaning or purpose or connection with a Supreme Being. I find my meaning within the world around me and my interaction with others. I believe that love is a wonderfully human reality, not a supernatural one.
It's interesting that your daughter asked you to speak at her wedding, but to avoid the G word. I just finished a training session as a Humanist celebrant (for marriages and funerals and baby namings and coming of age ceremonies, etc). So many people are seeking ways to mark these important events in their lives without invoking the supernatural. As I'm sure you know from your experience with your daughter and lots of other folks, there are plenty of people in the world who live good, honest, fulfilling lives without belief in a supreme being. That's where I am now, too. Things change. I think that's okay. And I think that if your faith is supporting you, that's fine, too. We are all in different places, and I'm not going to judge one as better than another. For me it did feel like a kind of "outgrowing," like shedding a skin that's grown too tight for me, like becoming more honest somehow. Stories fed me for a long time--and as a writer I truly appreciate the value of a good story--but when it comes to meaning in my life, I prefer vigorous engagement with reality to the following of an ancient story, even a good story. Of course, I know many wonderful people of faith and have great respect and admiration for many of them. We're all on journeys, and none of them are exactly the same.
All the best,
Mary
