reboot

With this blog, I hope to accomplish a few things:

1. Self-expression that leads to mental, emotional, and spiritual clarity

2. Hone a particular set of writing skills

3. Get into the habit of writing every day

4. Share my thoughts and myself with certain friends of mine, which would hopefully lead to exchanging thoughts and ideas…because you can get a lot out of a simple conversation.

But first…

I have to get this off my chest:

I never really write about my spirituality. But since I just had a great prayer session in the bathtub, that’s today’s subject.

I am really really thankful right now. I just prayed. And it felt so good. Some people would find it surprising that I would say this. Because I don’t go to church (reasons: ask me why I can give you plenty).

Because I believe in human rights, and gay people, bi people, the incarcerated, alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes, racists, atheists, extremists, polyamorists, pedophiles, rapists, people who have committed murder, refugees, illegal aliens, the illiterate, people with mental and/or emotional “disorders” and transgendered people are all “human” to me.*

Because I believe that there are many paths to “God”, truth, goodness, enlightenment, peace, love, joy, whatever you want to call it…and some paths are trod by many, and other paths are only walked down by the one who is creating it as she walks…but in the end we all get to the same place.

But I do believe in “God”. And in the world my God created, the smallest particle of an atom is equally as important as the biggest star of all the galaxies, and my God does not exist to be praised, to cause suffering, to punish, to prolong a fight that was already predetermined before time existed, or to condemn.

In the world my God created, humans do not exist to rule over the earth, but to participate in it and contribute to its growth.

The God I believe in did not create humankind to serve as pawns in a fight between eternal forces greater than ourselves; in the world my God created, all species co-exist and it is up to each individual species to make a contribution to our own species and to the earth, and if we cannot live in harmony with her than surely we will die.

My God rejoices when two people find love, even if they are of the same “gender”. My God is not offended by foul language but She is offended by those who praise “God” in church and in public, for wealth that was generated off the backs of people who have no choice but to engage in labor that ruins their health, keeps them from their families, keeps them from pursuing their dreams, and doesn’t pay them enough money to have a basic standard of living.

My God is offended by those who claim to walk with Him but beat their wives or their children, manipulate their congregation for money, molest the young, and condemn those who are decided to be “sinful” to hell.

My God is offended by those who use his name to oppress His people. My God created the marvel of the human brain, is enraged by those who would use fear of hell to keep people from using their brains to conceive of and create a better world—even if that means that people question the very existence of God. My God is not offended by those who don’t believe in her presence—She has high self-esteem and a healthy self-image.

My God does not “test” those who seek to be close to her. My God respects your right to define your own destiny, and create your own morality, and she is comfortable maintaining a relationship with you at whatever level you decide.

In the world my God created, life can be whatever we want it to be. It can be something to do until we die. It can be full of passion. It can be full of pain. It can be a work of art. It can be completely different from anyone else’s. It can surpass or fall far short of our expectations.

My God has created a world of endless potential. What is, is not what has to be. We can change ourselves. We can change our lives. We can change the world. We can change the galaxy, and the entirety of existence. My God has created us all of perfect, equal, and unique greatness.

My God exists both inside and outside of all living beings. I am not God, but part of me is.

Finally my God respects your right to follow other Gods.

However, if this isn’t the God you believe in, well, I think my God is better than yours

So anyway. I had a long talk with God. In the bathtub. And I feel good. I feel thankful. I am reminded that I am fully equipped with everything I need, to do everything I want to do and be everything I want to be. And I am thankful. And blessed. And inspired. And focused. And good…

*if you choose to be offended that I have lumped queerness into the same categories as many other things that truly are problematic, that’s not how I meant it. I just mean people are people.*