Rob's Ruminations - September 08

Are you religious?

As the dog days of summer fade into the beautiful colors of a New England fall it is easy to fill one’s dance card and start the charge of the “programmed” life. For many, school has started. Friends who have been away for part or all of the summer have returned. Meetings return to the routine and life tends to be a bit more hectic. That is not only true for the world, but for the church as well. Fall is kick-off season and there are many opportunities for us all here at St. John’s. But, before we sprint full speed ahead with no clear destination I encourage us all to ponder anew our relationship with God, each other and our beloved St. John’s.

St. John’s is fortunate to have so many excellent opportunities. We have a stellar Sunday School program for all ages, a dynamic choir, outreach through the Common Table and others, wonderfully full worship, and we are even receiving a visit from our Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori on Friday, September 26, 2008 (details of her visit are on page 14).

This is all something to celebrate! But, sometimes the programs can start to appear to be our purpose and that is not the case. Our purpose is to explore and tend our soul’s desire to be in relationship with God and creation. Our mission at St. John’s is simply put during the 8am service every Sunday when we read the summary of the law.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (BCP, 324)

Or to paraphrase in more current language, our mission is to Love God, Love others and Love ourselves.

So often I hear people talk about being “spiritual” but not “religious” or that they are not into “organized religion.” I believe this type of thinking comes from experiencing “religion” or “organized religion” as less than authentic or relevant to one’s life. Somehow church has become just another thing on their list to do or another chore. And religion is just another label for being intolerant and judgmental. If that is being “religious,” then count me out as well, but I am not willing to surrender all of our language to be defined by pop-cultures whims and misinformation.

What if we reclaimed our sacred language and our religion? Our Presiding Bishop has said that, “Religion at its best is an invitation to relationship.” I call myself religious, not because I am a priest, but because my faith informs my life, not only my life on Sunday morning, but my entire life. A religious life is not simply a set of beliefs, but rather it is a fluid and organic life lived in community. It is a life lived in relationship with God, with self, and with all of creation.

This fall as you are immersed in your life, I invite you to ponder whether or not you consider yourself religious. This is not a test. Your answer may be yes or no, but as a community committed to Loving God, Loving others, and Loving ourselves we owe it to ourselves to ask the questions and wrestle with them in the depths of our minds, hearts and souls.

Peace and much joy,

Rob

(Posted July 30, 2008 by lela)