What's your calling?

In the past several years, I've felt drawn to a closer connection with my religion and to a sense of faith. That has led to, amongst other things, this blog. I find, however, that what I had hoped to gain from this experience I do not always gain. I find myself weekly contemplating letting this effort go as a good idea that either never came to fruition or that simply was at the wrong time.

At the same time, I find myself wondering if my chosen profession is what I really want. The more I learn about the fields I study, the more I see their dark sides, the things that make the daily grind miserable. I at one time loved what I do, but with each day that excitement wanes. I fear what I really enjoy is novelty, the idea of pursuing something new, the idea of overcoming a new challenge. If that's true, must I change careers every few years just to stay stimulated? Is it possible I'm going through a quarter-life crisis, and if so, is my indecision merely something to acknowledge, or am I really on the wrong track?

What am I supposed to do? How do I decide whether to continue this blog, continue my studies, start my life anew? Where does guidance come from? I want to believe that there's a proper path for each person, a way of living life that will bring fulfillment and happiness. How do I find that path? Is the path a set of decisions I make in this world, or within my own heart and mind, or a little of both? Are there signs to guide my way?

I remember the scene where Bruce Nolan, before he becomes Almighty, is given many (literal) signs and he misses them all. Am I missing my signs? Have there been hints at to where I will succeed, where I am most needed, and most importantly where I'll be most happy? I don't believe God will step down from Heaven and hand me a memo stating what I'm supposed to do, but harkening back to some of our earlier discussions on this blog, I do think there is divine guidance to be found in the events of the day-to-day. I just wish I knew how to understand those signs.

Do you believe you have a calling? If yes, have you found it? How did or will you find it? What do the signs look like? What guidance can you share with others?

Glue or Scissors?

Just a quick note about last week - I actually thought I had posted, but I guess I hadn't. Sorry, all.

"Everyone ought to worship God according to his own inclinations, and not to be constrained by force." - Flavius Josephus, Life

This week, allow me to briefly comment on the role religion has played in communities and societies throughout history, and reflect on how this plays out today.

Religion is often cited in ancient history as being essential to bringing together communities around central, unifying ideas, and particularly for sorting out meaning in a world where the people simply didn't understand everything (still the case). As such, I can't imagine what a history without religion would have looked like - I suspect even Vulcans must have had religion and emotions in their distant past.

However, many instances in history also cite examples of where religion was a basis for war (almost never the only basis, of course). Religion has constantly been used as a justification (or an excuse) to oppose those with different views. We see the same today with numerous ethnic conflicts throughout the world which cite religious differences as a basis.

Religion should guide us, help us understand the world, and help us understand each other. Don't let the organized institutions of religion corrupt the faith and spirituality at the core of religion. Let the labels be just that, and let the different paths to understanding all be valid and enlightening ways to view the world. We must come together, all humanity, as a global community, to heal all that ills our world.

Religion Through Music

"Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!" (Psalm 95:1-2, The Message)

Many religions make use of music during their ritual observances. Song allows us to connect to prayers in a different way - we experience words and music in different parts of our brains, and we can feel the music in our bodies themselves. Furthermore, familiar hymns and tunes can bring communities together as they share a song they've all known since childhood.

What role does music play for you in your religious observances? Does music help you feel connected to God? To the community? What are some of your favorite hymns or songs and what meaning do they hold for you?

Back from hiatus!

Last week I admit I was negligent...I failed to post anything on Kehilla. I thought about it, but the warm Hawaiian sun just won me over. Vacations are certainly a time for renewal, as described in a sermon I heard recently, and I hope to pick up where I left off, here on Kehilla and in all of my life, with renewed strength and vigor. Admittedly, I may get little sympathy from those of you in colder climes while I was away, but I ask you to forgive me anyway.

Today I wish to speak about the role of faith in healing. There exists a scientific body of evidence to suggest that prayer does aid in healing, both in that those with strong faith and strong communities fare better in illness and in that praying for someone who is ill aids their recovery, even if they are some distance away and incapable of knowing about the prayer. Community support structures, i.e. family and friends, are essential to healing - many faiths encourage visiting those who are ill to aid their recovery for this very reason. Sometimes, where medicine cannot conquer illness alone, faith must come to our aide. Thus, when next you know someone in need of healing, say a little prayer for them.

Lost in Translation

Of the major faiths of the world, very few have primary texts that were originally written in English, nor for that matter any language spoken exactly as it is today. Thus, we have nothing but translations to work from, for even if we have the originals (a rare event, indeed), noone can read them. Additionally, we in few cases truly know much about the origins of these texts other than from scripture itself. I do not mean to outright question the origins of religious texts, but I do want everyone to stop long enough to wonder if what they're reading is what it's meant to be.

Over the years, texts have been edited, revised, reduced, enlarged, translated (and re-translated, and re-re-translated), and outright rewritten. Given the trust placed in the scribes who did this work, it is unlikely that much proofreading was done back to original sources, and even then it was likely done by the same small elite that prompted the rewriting. Since languages rarely translate perfectly (considering discrepancies in history and culture), a translator must inherently work in their own spin. Additionally, politics will always work its way into decisions - what to include, what to exclude, what language to use, etc. The final product is not a replica of the original, for sure.

However, the message is probably not changed too drastically. In the end, the books still tell stories of how to be a good person and live a good life. Therefore, don't get tied up in the specific words, but listen to the general idea. Despite some editing, it's still the Good Book.