I Understand...I Wish It Was Mutual

Greetings, my dear Lair guests! Today's missive isn't nature-glorifying or serenely reflective...it's a bit of a rant, actually. Just shaking out the "dust" in preparation for the summer.

I had an interchange the other day that seems "appropriate" to share given some of the blog topics of late (esp. darling Albiana's at "Flying off the Broom Handle" from 27 April). As was so eloquently (and hilariously) stated by Albiana's post, I've no problem with others expounding upon their spiritual/religious/faith practices through brochures, leaflets, or face-to-face "witnessing" or "testimonials." Heck, if your beliefs work for you, more power to ya! That you believe something--even that you believe that there's nothing TO believe in--is fine with me, so long as you have clearly stated reasons. The "'cause that's just the way it is" folk are the ones that bug me.

Case in point...a relative of mine (my blood-relatives pretty much don't know of my Path as the "drama" that would ensue just isn't worth it to me...I'd rather keep the closeness and let them think what they will) texted me about the beauty of the area they were traveling through. I'm certain it was lovely--especially at this time of the year. The text, which was in a variant of TXT shorthand, attributed this beauty to God. When I texted back that I couldn't understand some of the message (due to the shorthand used), they sent back "what, the hills, trees, vistas? Certainly not God."

Okay, so I get that, to many of you, I probably should have reacted...stated my beliefs right there and then...gotten out of the "broom closet" for real. But, to the person I was chatting, it would have done more harm than good. People who are "black/white" in their thinking don't do well with the "grey" in which all of us in the Pagan community live. Do I not understand God?--of course I do....it's a variant of the "poetic mind" (nods to the Enlightenment for that one) that guides the Universe. Do I understand YOUR God?--insofar as that's the belief system under which I was raised, yes. Do I acknowledge your God as my "Lord and Savior"?--no due to the restrictive and insular nature of the system in which he is worshipped.

Much like many of us, I became what I am today due, in part, to an awareness of those same restrictive and insular methods by which the faith practice is taught. I "grew" into Wicca...was unaware that I was a beliver until I started reading on alternative religions at university...didn't realize I was practicing Witchcraft until one of my friends more-or-less knocked me over the head with my athame. For how many of us has this been the pattern? For how many more would the concept of "growing into" a belief seem a sham or an excuse for not doing the whole church thing?

So, in essence, yes....I do understand God...on an intellectual level. I also intellectually understand Allah, Yahweh, the Buddha, and the teachings of Confucius. But, I embrace the Goddess...and dance in the light of the Moon (nods to "The Owl and the Pussycat"). I am open to the wonders and variety of the Universe...to the "grey" in everyone. The question isn't whether we, as Pagans, understand God, but whether "they" understand that difference is a thing to be celebrated...not suppressed. I "get" that.....do you?

In the softness and safety of the Moonlight...