Wow. Strong thought engine here Danny. I confess to possibly being over-Catholiced. My educational pedigree is IHM nuns, Chrstian Brothers, Augustinian monks, and Jesuits. Your line, “The life of faith cannot be lived alone" made me focus on my essential isolation as I relate to religion. A line from Jimi Hendrix, "When it comes my time to die, I'm the one who has to die. So lt let me live my life the way I want to." (Hope I at least came close in that quote.) While I applaud Jimi's courage, I also button my jacket tighter against the chill the isolation his perspective causes me. But it's inescapable. Thus lies my ounce of disbelief that “The life of faith cannot be lived alone." I think that statement got to Bart. When shifting through my religious hopes and fears, inevitably I arrive on the dark beach of death. I assumed everyone arrived there. So, yes, the end truly is the beginning. In my unfortunate focus on the deep six, the end/beginning is that dive into that beckoning dark surf. Perhaps there will be a coterie of compatriots cheering us on. But to me the dive will always be a solitary endeavor. But hey, I've successfully made this rumination all about me. Religious discussion does that to me. Like Bart, I go searching for signs or furniture or fountains that might make me confortable. But they never do. I always seem to find myselt on that damn beach, fearing the inevitable dive. Oh well. If life has taught me anything, it's that I'm not all that unique. I wish us all the best. Thanks for sharing your story Danny!
Wow. Strong thought engine here Danny. I confess to possibly being over-Catholiced. My educational pedigree is IHM nuns, Chrstian Brothers, Augustinian monks, and Jesuits. Your line, “The life of faith cannot be lived alone" made me focus on my essential isolation as I relate to religion. A line from Jimi Hendrix, "When it comes my time to die, I'm the one who has to die. So lt let me live my life the way I want to." (Hope I at least came close in that quote.) While I applaud Jimi's courage, I also button my jacket tighter against the chill the isolation his perspective causes me. But it's inescapable. Thus lies my ounce of disbelief that “The life of faith cannot be lived alone." I think that statement got to Bart. When shifting through my religious hopes and fears, inevitably I arrive on the dark beach of death. I assumed everyone arrived there. So, yes, the end truly is the beginning. In my unfortunate focus on the deep six, the end/beginning is that dive into that beckoning dark surf. Perhaps there will be a coterie of compatriots cheering us on. But to me the dive will always be a solitary endeavor. But hey, I've successfully made this rumination all about me. Religious discussion does that to me. Like Bart, I go searching for signs or furniture or fountains that might make me confortable. But they never do. I always seem to find myselt on that damn beach, fearing the inevitable dive. Oh well. If life has taught me anything, it's that I'm not all that unique. I wish us all the best. Thanks for sharing your story Danny!
Strong Genesis vibes washin over me here, far to the east, Danny.