Last week you discussed the big issues of life – its
brevity, reason for being, who made the world, God? Then who made God? I had lots of thoughts at the time but it was
your time to speak and share, not mine. If I were of quicker wit I would have
shared pithy remarks and well-earned wisdom. But I’m not that quick of wit. Instead
I pondered what you all said and come up with a response that might be of
some use to you. Maybe not, but it’s worth a try. Here it is.
From my experience I learned each generation asks the same
questions – Who am I? What is life? Why am I here? Is there a God? How do we
know any of this? Discovering the answers is really a way of filling a void in
our understanding and knowledge. We seek to know things. We search for bits and
pieces of facts. We try fitting some of the bits and pieces together to see if
they have a broader meaning.
Every now and then something clicks and we realize we now
understand something that before we did not. That’s how each of us learns. We
find ways to get along with others. We learn to survive weather with reasonable
comfort. We learn not to touch a hot stove! And sometimes we know when not to
ask mom or dad ‘why’?
Little by little we get to know our surroundings. Over time
we roam farther from home and learn more about the world. Years later we use
these learning skills to understand much broader topics.
Religion is one such topic. World history is another. Inner
workings of my own brain and personality is yet another.
Eventually we realize that in a vacuum of knowledge, mankind
asked the same questions and arrived at mythologies to make sense of the world.
In early civilization writing and language skills were primitive. Over time
language became more codified, writing followed, and recording events yet
followed.
Becoming aware of culture and society raised questions of
‘why’? Thus was opinion and reasoning raised to higher levels of learning.
Is God a creation of Man in a conceptual form? Is this how
Man came to understand his place in the cosmos? How much of this is factual and
how much myth? We probably will never know.
In later eons of mankind’s collaboration, however,
intellectual pursuits were organized, researched, documented and established as
disciplines of study and thought. More eons later and we have universities,
research institutions and entire religions of widely varying beliefs and dogma.
In the case of religion, all contain their truth; none is
supreme to the others. All require faith in the unknowable to make sense of
specific theologies. Many cultures form allegiance to one or two primary
religions as the culture grows and matures over hundreds of years, maybe
thousands of years.
American culture was founded on discovery of what then was
considered the ‘new world’ and the explorers came with faith that they could
settle a huge continent and create a new home for generations to come. They
came to escape religious dogma enforced by their native lands. They came to
escape prison terms or large debts. They came as laborers both skilled and not.
They came as indentured servants and slaves. They arrived with full and empty
purses.
Today many Americans think the nation is a Christian nation.
It was not founded as such by the Founding Fathers – God fearing, but not
Christ following. In time Protestantism provided a Christian stamp to colonial
regions. Indeed, some church denominations sponsored specific settlements of
areas that became whole colonies and later states. Massachusetts
and Rhode Island
are examples of these.
Although American colonies were forged out of the wilderness
of the new world for a host of reasons, religious freedom became a halcyon
theme. Such was not to require religious belief or loyalty to a specific faith
but rather establishment of freedom to arrive at one’s own conclusion regarding
religious belief and faith. That is exactly opposite what many people claim to
be our history in modern political discourse! Interesting, eh?
At any rate the truth of the matter is that each of us has
the freedom to decide for ourselves whether we will follow any religious
belief.
In your program of recovery you are encouraged to honestly
assess who you are and what you wish to become in the future. Some behaviors
assist in this process; others hinder. Drugs and alcohol are behavioral
components of life which have impact on our ability to live authentically and
healthfully. Each of us must determine how authentic and healthy our lives will
be with or without drugs and alcohol. Some are addicts and need to forever
separate their lives from the addiction if life is to be lived healthfully and
authentically. For those with addictions this separation is a must, not an
option.
A condition of life is personal understanding and responsibility.
We are not told who we are. We must discover that on our own. We are not told
what to believe. We must discover that on our own and expand our understanding
throughout life. Each of us has the responsibility to do these basic tasks. No
one can do it for us.
Twelve-step programs of recovery have come into being to
help individuals find a way to control their addictions on their own terms. The
programs are sensibly offered for group attendance so we are not alone. We
gather strength from others in this process. We can explore life together as it
impacts our addictions. There is genius in that connection with others.
Now if you feel you are not an addict but that others have
placed that label on you, well there is much work you need to do! Again, it is
work only you can do. Ignoring it will not make it go away. It will remain a
task for you to do eventually. Hopefully before you run out of time.
The intellect is powerful. It also can be abused and thwart
understanding. Be certain you use your intellect honestly and for good.
Now, what is it you believe in? And how will you use it to
enrich your life?
May 28, 2015
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