I remember the day as clearly as one can decades later, after many a heartache has brought tears that fog the rearview mirror of life. There I was, sitting on the living room couch, looking out our picture window, knowing that, just down the road, others were heading home from Sunday services. I don’t recall the ponderings that led me to the doors that were about to fling wide open, but both panels of thought that followed were (at least to me) more profound than any other I’ve ever experienced. Once inside, I found conviction in a space I’ve come to call spiritually eclectic. I also found deeper meaning in and a spiritual layer to the old adage of talk the talk, walk the walk.
Walking the Walk
I see religion as being much like shoes, its purpose to help and protect us through the journey of life. Some shoes are well worn and comfortable, others polished and formal, and then there are those more ornate with embellished designs to match a dressy attire. Countless styles, both natural and humanmade, are offered in different sizes and widths to provide their wearer a most comfortable fit. What works for one may leave others blistered, wobbly, or sore.
But sometimes it goes beyond fit. Life at times threatens us with harsh seasons and the challenge to persevere, seasons that could otherwise leave our weathered soles cracked and worn. Without hearty, reliable footwear, our very being may become vulnerable to the holes.
And yet, despite all this, there are some who feel wearing shoes cramps their style, often choosing to step out in their day-to-day ventures wearing none.
Whether we opt to travel through life barefoot or wearing combat boots, I believe our worthiness is not determined by our chosen spiritual convictions, the “shoes” at our soul’s feet. Instead, look to the motivation and intentions that fuel a sense of purpose and inspire an eager heart. Will our next and final steps deliver us at least closer to where we hope to be? If so, I choose to believe our role in the enduring human experience will be well-traveled to the end.
Talking the Talk
We each are born into this world inheriting the language of community and home. What is a native tongue on one side of the world is foreign to others far away. Even within and beyond the boundaries of Earth, languages are uttered in non-human form. And yet, fear, hostility, love … watch or listen carefully, some universal emotions are beacons that alert all minds.
So, what does all of this have to do with religion? Just as our native spoken, written, or signed words are used to communicate life stories and world news, I view religion as being the language of the spirit and emotions the language of the heart and soul. Consider the near-countless languages and dialects spoken around the world, and then open-mindedly and honestly ponder this: which one is the right language for all?
For any who actually believe one and only one supreme language should be spoken universally by all, mentally propel yourself to a far-off land or even another world, then state your case to an eloquent master of the foreign language there. Are you still convinced? Did you succeed in convincing them? Could they even begin to understand what you were trying to say?
Whether in language or religion, we should all strive to master that which helps us to feel at home. Share rich stories, nurture earnest traditions for our children to learn, honor, and then pass on. Instead of alienating others with a different perspective, we should seek out and strengthen the connections we share through compassion, understanding, and acceptance of all.
As a young girl, I was baptized into the Christian faith, which became my first learned spiritual language and life-traveling shoes. But ever since that Sunday on the couch, I’ve aimed to be multi-lingual, with a selection of shoes for my journey through life.
Do I believe there is one “right” religion? No. But I do believe there is one universal language we are all meant to learn and share, and it is one that could, with effort, come naturally — the language of the heart.
© 2020 HSE
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