"Be sure to choose
what you believe and why you believe it, because if you don’t choose
your beliefs, you may be certain that some belief, and probably not a
very credible one, will choose you."
-- Robertson Davies
"You gotta serve somebody." --Bob Dylan
With all the hoop-de-doo going on on tv and Facebook, and even at neighborhood gatherings, I find myself sometimes wondering if I'm wrong and they're right, those with whom I radically disagree, especially those I love and care for.
This morning I was reading some posts on Facebook and wondering that very thing. And the thought came to me, you have to decide what you believe. Nobody else can do that. You have a brain and a heart. Use them.
Immediately, as I scrolled down the page, I came upon the Robertson Davies quote, posted by Dawn Goldsmith: writer, quilter, and FB friend. I began to ponder. Since I believe in messages from God, I took this as one. Not that I have any misgivings about what I believe, but sometimes I think it's prudent to sit down, get quiet, and really think about what one believes. I know a lot of people (me included, probably) just rhetorically spout beliefs without even understanding what they're saying or knowing if that's something they really do believe. I think we should all examine our beliefs from time to time.
Religiously and spiritually speaking, I try to base all my beliefs on the words and examples of Jesus, because as Bob Dylan said, "You gotta serve somebody." Jesus is my rock and my savior, my role model. If it's contrary to what Jesus said (and here I'll get controversial), even if it comes from the Bible, then it doesn't fit my beliefs. For instance, Jesus lived and preached LOVE. The God of the Old Testament, as presented in the Bible, was a god of violence. While I'm open to the possibility that there's an explanation for that, I don't know what it is. So I choose to go with Jesus's teachings and base my beliefs on love.
I think it's easy for some people to use that apparent contradiction in God's character to justify their contradictory beliefs. For instance, many of my friends say they believe all life is sacred. Therefore if a person is politically pro-choice, that's evidence to them that the person is evil. But those same people who say all life is sacred would not hesitate to squash a bug, shoot a deer, or send their children to war against a person or idea that they believe is evil. That's a contradiction to me that, so far, nobody has been able to explain.
But anyway, before I go and lose all my readers who disagree with me, I'd like to put down just a few of my beliefs, both spiritual and wordly. This is for me, something I feel I need to do. So in the tradition of Jeff Foxworthy:
1. I believe that Jesus was the son of God. I believe I'm a daughter of God and heir to all that Jesus went to prepare.
2. I believe that we are commanded to love every single human being on earth, no matter their race, no matter their religion, no matter their color or political party, no matter if they're murderers or missionaries. This, according to my friend Jesus, is the second most important thing we must do after loving God totally.
3. I believe dogs go to Heaven. (Kitties too--all God's creatures.)
4. I believe that a cup of coffee in the morning is a joy of life.
5. I believe flowers are messages from God, not just some plant's genitals.
6. I believe music comes from the spirit and is a language all its own.
7. I believe all things, including us, in the Universe are connected physically.
8. I believe there is more in our reality that we can't see than that we can.
9. I believe a Chick-fil-a vanilla milkshake is the most delicious thing on earth.
10. I believe in angels, although I'm not sure just what they are.
11. I believe that skin color, just like hair color, is a physical trait. That's all. It has nothing to do with a person's character.
12. I believe people should be able to speak any language they damn well choose.
13. I believe that we were put here as stewards of the earth, not owners of it.
14. I believe that sin is hurting one of God's creations.
15. I believe that art, music, and craft are efforts to immitate God. Remember we were made in his image.
16. I believe "made in his image" means, not that we look like him/her/it (remember, God is not a human) but that the spirits that are within us are godlike.
17. I believe that God is huge and that we are tiny.
18. I believe God loves us with a love that we can't understand but that we attempt to immitate in our love for our family and friends.
19. I believe that the resources of the earth are here for all creatures, not just us.
20. I believe in evil. That is, I believe evil exists. I believe that war, injustice, racism, or any form of hatred is an expression of evil.
21. I believe that God has a plan for all people on earth and that none of us will suffer because of the cultures we've been brought up in. People of other faiths are his children too.
22. I believe Sophie is worrying the dickens out of me.
23. I believe Hally Berry and Ashley Judd are two of the most beautiful women who ever lived.
24. I believe home should be a sanctuary.
25. I believe rainfall soothes my soul.
26. I believe our bodies age, but our souls mature.
27. I believe we have lost much of what we used to be in modern devices such as telephones, televisions, automobiles, and airplanes. These separate us from Nature and the Universe. The Amish have that right.
28. I believe that whatever and whoever God is, he is eternally bound up in light.
29. I believe that justice is a God thing.
30. I believe pink is the most soothing color and yellow is the happiest.
And finally, I believe that if you disagree with any of my beliefs, it makes no difference in your worth. And it makes no difference in my love for you. You are my equal no matter what you serve.
I believe other things too. But if I don't get up now and take Sophie outside, she's going to stage a revolt.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 06/03/2010, Helen in Switzerland said ...
Lovely Susan, just lovely...I so enjoyed reading this post. In fact I'm going to print it out and keep it for future reference. I particularly like your take on Jesus and the New Testament - which I completely agree with.
Can I add one and disagree with one?
Add: I believe that if we could understand everything about God, then he wouldn't be God. Some things are just too big for mere mortals to get to grips with.
Disagree: I believe that blue is way more soothing than pink, but I'm right with you on yellow.
Now we only need to work out what's eating Miss Sophie..
Lol, Helen
On 06/03/2010, Julie in WA said ...
Thanks, Susan, for a great post. I love #15...Our God is a creative God, and being made in His image means that we are created to be creative people. Learning this has freed me to push beyond quilting "rules" and push my quilty thinking outside the box. It has been liberating and exciting and FUN! Soli Deo Gloria
On 06/03/2010, linda schiffer said ...
I"m right there with you (with the minor exception of #4 -- I believe God gave me fine taste buds so I can reject nasty tastes:). Go girl!!
:) Linda
On 06/03/2010, Linda F. said ...
I love reading your blog. I try to teach my children respect. If we all could just respect each other's beliefs, the world would be a nicer place. On another note, my youngest daughter is a bunny collector so she sure enjoys seeing all your bunnies!
On 06/03/2010, Elizabeth said ...
I wish more people held your view of Jesus and his teachings. I think he was pretty clear, and the rest just muddies the waters and gives people reason to hate. Thank you, Susan, for choosing love.
On 06/03/2010, mom2fur said ...
This is so wonderful to read. I've never had the pleasure of a Chik-fil-A (sp?) vanilla shake, but I bet I'd agree with you!
I hope Sophie will be okay. I'm sure she misses her daddy. Sometimes, animals are such an enigma. If only they could talk!
I'm sure you can already guess I agree animals go to heaven! How could anything with so much unconditional love in it not be rewarded?
On 06/03/2010, Ruth said ...
A wonderful post, Susan. Like Helen I'm going to print it for future reference and thought, and following your example will try to sort out my own beliefs more clearly.
Sophie is certainly keeping life exciting for you.
Ruth
On 06/03/2010, KAI said ...
I believe people who think everyone of and from 'The South' is backwards and prejudiced better come read your blog and get to know you, Courtney, and me. I believe you & I were connected through Anita's blog for a good darned reason. I believe I am extremely lucky to know you! And I CHOOSE to believe Sophie is going to finish going through her lil' naughty stage soon & be a well-behaved doggy again. LOVE YOU! And thank you for this beautiful, insightful post!
On 06/03/2010, Plain and Joyful Living said ...
This is wonderful. I agree and thank you.
Warm wishes, Tonya
On 06/03/2010, CarlaH said ...
Well Susan, I agree with most but have difficulty with a few - but that is just me. As you say, we are all entitled to our opinions and those should not make any difference to others when considering our worth. Wouldn't the world be dull we if were all the same. Hope Sophie snaps out of her "mood" asap.
On 06/03/2010, Jan said ...
Beautiful post Susan; and without a doubt, our furbabies go to Heaven :) The Bible says so :)
On 06/03/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
Amen, plus a few!
Heck of a day here with no brain left, so will just add a storm is moving in, a cat is still outside because she hasn't come when called (and she's frightened by thunder) and FIL's angioplasty is tomorrow.
Love and hugs!
On 06/03/2010, charlie beagle said ...
I still find it hard to love someone like Hitler etc. I think the devil takes on many personalities and I do not love the devil. I also do not go along with the current fashion of doing whatever feels good and never mind the consquences.
On 06/04/2010, Kelly Ann said ...
amen sista....
On 06/04/2010, crazymema said ...
WOW -- I've been enjoying your posts for a while but this was awesome. I probably disagree with a few and/or haven't thought about the subject(s) of even more of them but I REALLY needed to read that this morning due to some very crazy, crazy work stuff going on that I've been left to handle. It calmed me down and I think I can get on with the job now. Thank You!
On 06/04/2010, Mary said ...
Other than knowing Sophie, I do too. I have a stitchery in my bathroom that I see first thing in the morning that says "God bless everyone & every creature in the world, NO EXCEPTIONS."
On 06/04/2010, AnnieO said ...
It is great to read your beliefs and be glad that there is such a thing as blogland to introduce us to people of all kinds and find value in what they share. Thanks for sharing your beliefs and your humor, faith and emotion. Now get a kid to walk that dog into tiredness so she'll leave you be!
On 06/05/2010, molly said ...
I guess I missed this because we were zooing yesterday. I agree wholeheartedly with EVERY thing(almost) you wrote. I'm not big on pink and I don't like milkshakes of any flavor. Green is my favorite soothing color(and happy too) and I'd much rather have a shaved ice/sno-cone than a milkshake!LOL Everything else I was nodding in agreement!!
On 06/08/2010, gayle said ...
I BELIEVE you have a kind and generous soul.
On 06/10/2010, lila said ...
Thanks for sharing your beautiful, peaceful and life-giving beliefs!
I really like the one about souls maturing as bodies age!LOL!
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