Little things that make you evaluate your religion
By Leca
@lecanis (16647)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
January 20, 2007 8:59am CST
Every year around the beginning of the year I sit down with a calendar and start scheduling my time off for the year. I don't get enough time off from work to take every single religious holiday I celebrate off and still have time to use if I get sick or go on vacation. So each year I prioritize which holidays are most important for me to have a lot of time to celebrate.
This year when I sat down to do my planning, I had a thought: just doing this little chore tells me a lot about my religion, and which parts of it are most important to me. First on my list is always a holiday that celebrates the spirit world and loved ones who have passed on. It's the holiday I absolutely have to have off. I went on to think about each holiday I insist on taking, and why.
I think this really got my attention because on the surface planning time off from work isn't a religious activity. But it drew me into a closer inspection of my religious life. Anyone else having something they do that doesn't seem religious but becomes so?
3 people like this
3 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
16 Mar 07
The only time a chore becomes a religious thing for me is when I have to make my grocery list right before Passover. I have to remember not to get bread, pasta or pizza for the week.It does make me feel closer to the tradition.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
2 Mar 07
Thanks for your response! You make a very good point. Everything we do in our lives should reflect our beliefs. I try to set a good example too, for a lot of reasons. First and foremost, my responsibility to my Gods. Also, I am very careful what kind of example I set because my religion is very misunderstood, and I want to be able to help people see that pagans aren't the type of people that the media often says we are. =)
There's always room for improvement, for anyone, but I think realizing that is a big step towards living fully in our beliefs. So next you just have to figure out things you can do to change that, one at a time, until you're living a life you can be proud of.
1 person likes this
@buldwgz (1489)
• United States
16 Mar 07
I like to take time, special times especially, like those you speak of to share my thoughts with others. Afterall, religion is selfish enough, whichever religion it may be, without me setting aside so much time from others to keep it to myself. Sharing with one another, and living in harmony with others is always important to me. I try to make sure that on special occasions, and in daily life, I practice what I preach so to speak and don't keep it to myself.
