Have you ever heard the expression “ignorance is bliss?” The expression is used to describe many different situations in which people look back to a time when they were ignorant of certain truths and discover that life was a lot easier. However, who really wants an easy simple life?  I have always wanted a life of continual learning and adventure. Many people get to a point in their lives where they are comfortable and “set” in their ways and beliefs. I am not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing, but I think it can be very detrimental when it comes to a persons spirituality. In my life I have experienced different denominations of Christianity and I am almost always disappointed. So many people are so caught up in dogma and religious practices that they forget the real reason why they go the church. We go to church because we want to connect to God. I think we all have a deep longing to search after God and to discover His will for our lives. In my personal opinion I think religion in many ways hinders us from truly connecting with Him. Let me be clear, I think it is very important that we fellowship and help each other grow in our faith, but we cannot allow our love of tradition and ritual cloud our minds and cut us off from the Source. Currently I attend the Catholic church on Saturday evening and the Baptist church on Sunday Morning. I find that it is a good balance of the two major branches of Christianity. These teachings and people have helped me lay the foundation of my faith and I am forever grateful. However, I am discovering more and more every day that we are all missing something very major in our spiritual walks. We are all individuals that have personal relationships with God. Do not allow others to tell you what is right or wrong when it comes to your spiritual walk with God. We are all his children, and we all have valuable lessons to learn and to give! Do not be afraid to do your own studies of the Bible and other spiritual texts. Do not be afraid to form your own opinions and interpretations of what you study!  Do not be a straw man!

“We are the hollow men
We are the stuffed men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw.”                      -T.S. Eliot

yours,

Spencer Liles