IT MATTERS WHAT WE BELIEVE
Rev. John T. Crestwell Jr.
December 6, 2008
It truly matters what we believe. Some of the things we hold construct, while others tear-down. Some of the things we accept allow us to be hopeful, while many other things we believe cause fear and doubt. Some of the things we believe help us to do more than we ever thought we could or to bear a heavy burden, while other beliefs castrate our sense of dignity and purpose, or push us to give up way to soon on something we want. Yes, it matters what we believe…
What is this thing called belief? A belief, as defined by Webster, is conviction or the acceptance that certain things are true or real. It can be seen as faith, especially religious faith. Belief is also defined as anything accepted as true like a creed or doctrine or tenet. In its broadest sense, belief is the acceptance of something as true, even though absolute certainty may be absent. So a belief may or may not be true but the big thing is our acceptance of whatever information is presented-- which we accept on faith whether what we believe is good or bad. But again, to believe something does not make it true. Facts are indeed facts. Science deals in fact, generally, and religion deals in faith. Perhaps this is why the two disciplines are often-times at odds…
However, that is not my message to you today. My message to you today is to remind you that some things we keep within us, some things we believe really do harm us and others. Some of the things we believe are not good in edifying ourselves or humanity. And that is the part we must really be aware of.
You know, one of the things we find in the best of all religions is the idea of the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule we all know is "treat others like you wish to be treated." It is not a universal prescription but does apply to most situations. And if we accept the Golden Rules as a belief, it asks that we show lots of empathy and introspection. I often go back to the Golden Rule to bring me back to my true self when I am not being the best John I can be. The Golden Rule asks that we be empathetic—to be sensitive to others…
Now, I'm not always empathetic. It's hard sometimes. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." It's much easier to project my stuff on to others. And as you know, we are all works in progress. However, I value how you feel. It is not always expressed the way I wished it could be, but I do. This means if you are concerned or sad or lonely or depressed, or struggling—I feel your pain because I know that as an Imago Dei, an image of God manifest, you and I are one. Your struggles mimic many of mine. We are connected very magically—very cosmically, very spiritually, very humanly. We are connected.
Empathy is a word you heard in the reading today. And that is why I am hopeful about our next president and meditative about this new administration. You heard in the reading that Barack Obama was heavily impacted by his mom and grandparents and taught to be empathetic—a good belief to hold. It is the idea that "I am my sisters and brothers keeper," as he often has stated. Or as his mother said to him on occasion, "How would that make you feel?" This is the question we must ask ourselves all the time. It's humbling when you ask that question. It is so humbling sometimes that it can bring you to tears… It can make us pray even when we don't pray because we realize how wrong we are or have been in a situation and need to connect back to our deepest self. This question is so humbling that it will make religious folk who yell for "more war" to stop and meditate for a moment as they remember that empathy is a major tenet in their faith and hopefully make them think twice about yelling "bomb those people." "HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?" Imagine your children on the battlefield being blown to dust---HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? Imagine your baby with a bloated belly going to bed hungry at night—HOW WOULD THAT MAKE YOU FEEL. Imagine not being able to marry the one you love—HOW WILL THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? Imagine your life in that Third-World country—HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? Imagine someone making fun or talking negatively about you---HOW WILL THAT MAKE YOU FEEL. Yes, this is a divine statement and it humbles us all—for none of us are able to stand up and say we fully know how to live this question out. Indeed, when we ask it, it breaks the backbone of our perceived power and control—when we think we have it all figured out. It humbles that ego ever time. And if we are smart, we will take some time to just be quiet; to just stop, to just stare for a moment and think about who we are, what we believe, and what we say...
But I believe after showing humility, we shouldn't get too down on ourselves, and beat ourselves up on how much we've fallen short or been insensitive. Oh know, we start over again with a renewed sense of spirit. Perhaps if we make empathy our spiritual practice, we will feel better about ourselves and about others. Our lives will be more whole and we will watch amazing transformation in our sphere of influence.
What concerns me more immediately is that we continue to build spiritual community. And that means, for me, tolerance, patience, space, a rich legacy that embraces diversity and pluralism, and of course out of that comes an organic LOVE that is pervasively present.
There is an amazing power in this Universe that blesses those who bless, a power that honors concern, compassion, and love; a force that gives love back when we put love out.. And now, let us move forward in the spirit of love. But before we do, meditate on the following words of the Congregationalist minister Fred Kaan. These words bring home the idea of what it means to be empathetic… He wrote: "We utter our cry that peace may prevail! That the earth will survive and faith must not fail. We pray with our life for the world in our care, for people diminished by doubt and despair. We cry from the fright of our daily scene for strength to say "no" to all that is mean: designs bearing chaos, extinction of life, all energy wasted on weapons of death. We lift our hearts for children unborn: give wisdom, O God, that we may hand on, replenished and tended, this good planet earth, preserving the future and wonder of birth."
Let it be so!
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