Serendipity, Divine Intervention Or Chance
“Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile.”
- Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
You’ve just got to love Kurt Vonnegut. Or maybe that’s just me. I am starting to notice a pattern of admiring men who are dark and disturbed…Daddy Issues?
Anyway, I really had nothing to write about yesterday, which is highly unusual. I normally have three or more ideas bouncing around in my head at any given time. But yesterday…nothing. I knew I wanted to write about getting my computer back but I wanted to wait a few days to make sure it didn’t blow up or something.
Obviously, I finally decided to just go ahead and write about it. As I was searching for some silly, disingenuous quote about miracles to start the post about getting my computer back, I came across this one from Kurt Vonnegut.
I have wanted to write about spirituality and religion for quite some time. The problem is that I am not affiliated with any organized religion and am on something of a spiritual quest. I grew up without any religion, with the exception of a brief summer bible school camp when I was little.
I married into a Catholic family, but hubby went to Catholic school his entire life and says he put in his time already. The only time this family is ever in church is for baptisms, weddings and funerals. That’s just as well, because that is the one religion I know the most about and I don’t identify with it on any level.
I do know that I like the idea of reincarnation, and have, I believe, even seen some evidence of it. I also know what I don’t like about Christianity in general. I do enjoy meditation, yoga and reiki, which are aspects of different Eastern religions, as is reincarnation.
Really, that’s about as far as I’ve gotten in my spiritual quest. I love Mr. Vonnegut’s quote for many reasons, but the main one being that I can say that I know that I am always going to be questioning. Even if I do decide on actual organized religion or on some blended spiritual beliefs of my own, I will always be questioning.
So, was me coming across his quote a “sign” of some sort that it was time for me to write this post about religion that I have been considering for so long? Was it merely a coincidence? I mean, I was searching for the word, “miracle” so it isn’t too far-fetched to assume that a quote or two about religion would pop up.
The intellectual and future psychologist in me thinks it may have even been my subconscious telling me it was time for me to write this. I had writer’s block due to the slight guilt I was feeling about not writing about my resolution with Best Buy after posting so many negative things about them. Once I got that post started and found this quote, that lead me to this post and no more writer’s block.
I’ll never know for sure but I will always be questioning.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’m Catholic (like almost every other Puertorican) but only because I was raised Catholic. I know all the rituals for Mass and prayers and whatnot. I went to Catholic School and there I learned that I didn’t agree with a lot of stuff that entailed Catholicism. I used to drive my religion teachers insane with my questions. I don’t know if it was that they were prepared or not to answer them but they sure made me want to deter from this religion. I live my life trying to be a good person. I believe there’s something out there, just don’t ask me what. I don’t really believe in the stories that the Bible tells us. I think they were written to teach us lessons, not necessarily a recount of actual events. So, the best description for me (at least for now) would be agnostic. And that’s fine by me. I really don’t think I need a label in order to do what’s right, to be in peace and to respect my fellow peers.
People ask me about my religious affiliation all of the time. The only response I can muster so far: I am a Pedestrian
The last exit I made from a Christian church, uttering, “Man of God my ass” — was, I believe, God working through me in mysterious ways.
I totally believe in miracles.
Um…hate to tell you this with our tandem, in sync thing but my blog post mentioned Miracles today too. I too am a “spiritual” searcher, I’m looking for something that feels right for my soul. My mother is a devout Christian and takes the kids with her to church and Awana when she babysits for them. I’m leery about making a definite religious choice for them. I know that some religious teaching will be good on a moral level and help them make choices when the time is right for them. They have a very narrow understanding of the whole concept right now, some of which is due to their limitations and disabilities. Recently, I’ve really gotten into the Eastern Philosophy’s but miss the connection and support that a church can provide. I’ll keep reading….Good luck on your quest.
Great post! Religion is a iffy subject in my home. I grew up in a confused household, with parents of 2 different Christian beliefs. I would have to say Catholicism beat out my Baptist father almost ever time. It was weird, we sometimes had to go to both churches to make both of them happy. Finally after my first communion, my parents must have had a major argument, but the new rule was let the children decide. I always picked my moms church since my Dad’s scared me (they had people “finding the holy spirit” and passing out). As a young child I didnt understand (anyways I hope to not offend anyone)… LONG story short, I am 32 now and I have not baptized the twins, my Husband is an atheist (he grew up without anyone talking about God at all – he has NEVER been to church) and I am a non practicing Catholic. I am very spiritual but its been over a year since I went to church. I do pray daily and mediate. I def have guilt that we haven’t participated more… but I just dont know what to do, how to find Religion… Make sense? Probably not, since i am rambling! Love your blog, glad you got your computer back.
I like to believe in a higher power or force — in fact, I almost believe that there has to be. But I don’t think it’s possible for any mere mortal to understand these things –at least not on this side of creation — so I tend to believe that all organized religions are just human beings’ creations to try to make sense of things or add order to their lives. That being said, I’m glad my younger sons and my husband still go to church and find comfort there–and I join them on holidays for tradition’s sake.
I’m a mom who had a spiritual awakening seven years ago where my soul told me I’d write a book about group reincarnation and rock music. Yikes! What a wacky vision of the future. But that book was recently published a few months and all I know is that my last name, Faeth (pronounced faith), has been tested on a daily basis. But my experiences and the synchronicities which have unfolded along my journey undeniably point in the direction of a soul that returns to earth numerous times to learn, grow and co-create. And we apparently return with lots of other souls we knew, not only our families, but maybe even your favorite rock band!
The subconscious mind (which in my experience is a hotline to the soul) absolutely nudges us and gives us guidance all of the time. When I pay attention to those signs, tinglings and synchronicities, miracles do unfold.
It doesn’t matter where it comes from (God, your subconscious, the heavens, coincidence….) it came to you for a reason. Go with it!
Gotta love the Universe!
Love ya!
interesting post. don’t be afraid to hit on this topic more. i think most of us out there are asking similar questions. as for me, i would have to say i fall into the “i believe in jesus but not necessarily as the church teaches him.” i grew up in church. did sunday school, youth group, the whole nine yards but i found myself asking, “is there something more?” as i studied the life of jesus, he seemed to answer some of those questions and i found it had nothing to do with being in a pew on sundays. i read things like love your neighbor as yourself. be kind, generous, unselfish, helpful and forgiving. that seemed more like a message i could give my life to.
i still have tons of questions though and have just decided that spiritual life is messy and full of turns and twists.
keep walking sister….
I feel the same way. I have been reading a lot of books on the subject and have found one recently (finished it today) that I really like. It’s called “Not the Religious Type: confessions of a turncoat atheist” by Dave Schmelzer
It’s a really difficult book to paraphrase, The core of it is one man’s experiences finding out that there is a Jesus and a God..but, the “religion” is where everything gets messy. It’s an easy read and it really made me think. You should read it.
Too funny. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t divine intervention, a sign, or psychologoically related, maybe through all of our similiarities we have developed some cosmic communitcation, like twins!
LOL, I’ve thought the same thing exited church services sometimes. Pedestrian. I like that.
Oh no, they don’t like questions, at least in the Catholic churches I’ve been to. You are to believe because they tell you it’s so….and the rituals, even I know most of them just from attending weddings, baptisms & funerals all these years. If I had to label myself, Iwould also choose Agnostic. I believe there’s something out there just not sure what. May Peace Be With You (sit, kneel stand, repeat…)
I like your idea of the bible. I also don’t believe they were actual events but there are good lessons to be taken away from some of the stories.
Yes, it makes sense. There are a lot of us searching but not really believing what the mainstream Western religions teach & preach. Thank you!
You’re back! On my way to find out if this week is going better….:)
Thanks, it’s on my to-read list!