Well, it’s been all over the news: The Costa Concordia ran aground. Shocked gasps … finger pointing … statistics … long discussions about the rights and wrongs … It’s not the first time something like this has happened, neither will it be the last … yet it is the first time (and hopefully the last!) that I am affected by it: my parents were on that ship.
A week has past in a blur, going from a phone call in the middle of the night where both parents assured me they’re ok, whilst I didn’t even know something had happened … over picking two shell shocked loved ones up from an earlier flight to nursing them back to health. Should it have sinked it? Should I be able to grasp it more?
It’s become part of my life. I have come to dread questions about my religion or faith … I even side step discussions that threaten to lead to such questions. Why? Because I do not fit the moulds people try to squash me into and this results in many seemingly offhand comments that are awkward at best or hurtful without that person even realising what they are saying.
I am neither baptised nor do I ascribe to one religion What? So you’re an atheist?
No. So you believe in a God?
Not in the general sense. But? but … Ensue: spluttering, fish mouth, gaping eyes and similar.
Many of us want to help, want to stick out our hand and pull the other out of whatever plight they are in, be this mental or physical. But hey, would you try to pull someone out of mudpool when you yourself are slip and sliding around its edge? Is it wise to stand on the thin ice pulling your friend out of the hole they just crashed into without making sure you don’t fall in yourself? People have been known to try just that due to panic. There is a good reason why flight attendants repeat their mantra “put on your own oxygen mask before helping others” – we are so focussed on helping another we overlook that if we forget ourselves in the process there is nothing of us left to help them.
Life is hectic. Everyone says it – everyone experiences it. We complain, we get on with it, we moan about not having enough time, we go back to the never ending to-do list, we sigh some more … Life seems more than hectic – it becomes a never ending cycle of running after those precious minutes and taking breathers to grumble. And yet the odd thing is, that in finding those moments where you do nothing, seemingly letting that precious time trickle by, one gains more time in the long run.
I am aware that some readers will find this post controversial, perhaps even offensive. I am coming from a background of an observer, stepping back to view religion and its concepts and symbolism from a distance. This is not meant to offend and I invite you to join me taking a step back for a moment. If you prefer to not take such a standpoint, I would advise not to pursue this post.
When I drive to the village where I teach some 15 minutes from where I live, I pass 15 crucifixes on the way (not counting any in the two cemeteries I pass). Living in the heart of a catholic area it’s common to see crucifixes at the side of roads entering/leaving communities as well as throughout the communities and even in open countryside. It took me years to be able to walk past a crucifix without having to force myself to look away or feel my gut clenching at the sight. Where at first I thought it was just the image that made me uncomfortable, looking into deeper symbology of the various cross depictions I’ve come to realise there is more to this reaction. What message lines alongside the streets here religious understanding and tradition aside? Continue Reading »
Researching Caduceus and similar thoughts that have been circling my mind I came across Yasamika‘s Channel. Not only does he have me bobbing my head most of the time, but his approach is simple open and yet not in a “this is the truth and no variation or other approaches are right” way. I’ve made a playlist of his videos for easy access for you and me. Some things I’ll probably want to get back to, others just need chewing on, pondering, going away and coming back. They are really good and if you allow it everyone of us can learn from these.
