One of my favorite authors is BrenĂ© Brown. Her ideas about belonging to a faith community interest me at this time in my own faith journey. Rather than striving for uniformity, I am seeking not to fit in, but to belong. Brown suggests true belonging comes from accepting differences. My current faith journey involves finding a place where I can share in the “faith and mystery”. I enjoy the diversity of beliefs and backgrounds when they come from an open mind, loving heart, and reflect their life history rather than fitting into a place where everybody thinks and behaves alike. I share Brown’s belief that true connection and belonging are built on vulnerability. The feelings of vulnerability and humility come to me when I am surrounded by strangers in a traditional church I attended for many years, many years ago.
I have had a strong faith life even without being actively involved in a traditional church institution. After leaving the church, I went on a journey seeking truth. I studied many other traditions, Buddhism being the one I relate to best. Today, my needs are different. Rather than searching for truth, I wish to belong, feeling grounded in connection with many.
It feels like I am going back to my roots, with a deeper understanding of what it means to be a soul in a human body. What it means to belong and accept rather than judge and criticize. Remembering the messy reality of the human experience. and knowing all people are vulnerable and valuable, even if they do not think like me and belong to the same political party.
While I feel the need to be grounded because of the uncertainties of life as an elder, I believe a messy human existence can evolve to a loving, more inclusive way of living. I wish to bring that light and energy wherever I go.
Someday we will find the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me.
Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbows are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told, and some chose to
Believe it
But I know they're wrong wait and see
Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might seeSomeday we'll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me
Have you been fast asleep
And have you heard voices,
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls
The young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
La lala la lala la la la lala la la la
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