Losing my religion and finding Easter!

I've been thinking a lot about death and hope lately.

Resurrection. How does someone who Was born and raised In the church. In the bible belt in Alabama. Become a liberal Jesus follower Instead of a conservative Christian.

And I'm not gonna argue about 
The MAGA movement Trump nonsense. Or the identity politics of the far left.  The Jesus that I remember And the teacher that I follow is the one that said The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. And I've Seriously come to take That means every creature on Earth. Every star in heaven.

Is a reflection of the Divine.

I personally. Feel like that. Loving your neighbor as yourself means. That you accept the right Of the existence Of people that you don't have to agree with.

But that you can understand that they're on their own Journey. When President Trump  got elected this second time.

I saw a Bishop. Stand up in a church. Maybe it's because she was lesbian. Maybe it's because she's a liberal. I don't know, but. I heard her speak. In a loving voice to power. And I was impressed. And she looked at our newly elected King at least he seems to be in some people's eyes. Sorry for the sarcasm.

And she said Mr President people are afraid. Have mercy! Have mercy! And I thought that's what Jesus would say regardless. That's what John the Baptist would say. And had his head cut off for saying it. Speaking to power the way power didn't want to hear it, have mercy. How is that
blasphemous or disrespectful? That was Christ speaking to the Pharisees. That was John speaking to Herod

and yet the pompous powers that be And the supporters of power started yelling. Heretic. She should be ashamed. Left-Wing Looney. 

 Have mercy On those. You have power over, they're afraid. Have mercy on them. Show them love. That that offended? People that I had. Been raised to look up to. The same church that had spoken of the worth of the poor and downtrodden were now offended. Have Mercy!

Born Again, Christians. It offended people because she didn't support Trump. And because those people she was talking about were gay or illegals? Different. I remember an old episode of All in the Family. Archie was on one of his rants. And at the end of his rant.

He said. Something, and it's not an exact quote, but something like. It offends God. And Edith looked at him and said very softly, then let God handle it.

I was taught to love not To rail and scream and judge. 

Resurrection, my resurrection. My faith and my beliefs have been battered. And thrown aside and trampled. My dogma got ran over a long time ago. I don't do Creeds, and I don't do Thou shalts and shalt nots. 

In my heart of hearts. I still Acknowledge the divinity and the wisdom of the one who said Love your neighbors yourself! And love the Lord, thy God, above all things. 

and in my experience all things are in the Lord, thy God. I know that. So I don't. I don't do fire and brimstone. I don't do physical bodies coming up out of Tombs.

I don't do literal interpretation of ancient parables and language I have no ability to parse every word of. There's a lot of stuff I don't do anymore. It's funny but my grasp of resurrection is similar to Paul's. What's sewn is physical. What's raised is spiritual. 

I still follow him. I still look to him. And I still see. The wisdom. And the love of God. And love for the poor and The Afflicted as he did and for the down cast.

When I first started to work
in the 80s for Etowah County. Late 80s. I got a job With the county as a tax appraiser. And I was scared every day because. I have messed up so much in my youth and I wanted to finally Get it right. Not quit a job because I was angry or lazy or scared.

Just get it right this time. And I did. But there was a man who was. Because I was listening to Christian radio. Who was always yelling the skies falling. The sky is falling buy gold buy gold. The sky is falling. Jesus is coming God's angry and buy gold your stuff and hunker down.

That man probably meant well. He passed away some years later. As we all do. But he probably meant well. But what a fear-mongering Unnecessary Dogma. And This young man. Wasted nights and days of unrest that weren't necessary so you can have your fear if you want it. You can keep it.

 I was thinking the other day. I think it's because Now that I'm in my 60s? In my late 60s.I've had heart surgery. I don't hear as well as I used to. I don't move as fast as I used to. And I don't take the little things. As seriously as I used to.

I don't care. Whether somebody thinks I look presentable or not. The way I used to
and I feel the fragility Of this body.I use a CPAP machine to breathe at night.

Not too long ago. It wasn't a near-death experience, because as far as I know. I wasn't dying. But found myself in a place of Pure white light. It was brighter than the Sun. It was so peaceful. And didn't hurt my eyes at all
And I knew in that light. Was everything and everyone that ever was, is and will be. The light is the light of God's presence. And the reality Of everything and everybody, and every creature. I knew was in that light

And it helps me sometime now. As I walk through this world. Because I mess up a lot. I screw-up relationships. I can think of a couple I've screwed up in my life that I wish I could go back and redo, but I know. They're in that light. Nothing's dead.

So, that's. My story for Resurrection Sunday. When it comes I won't be in church. I won't be wearing Easter frocks and I won't be reciting any creeds. But if you're there. And the Leader Says he is risen, and you answer. He has risen indeed. I agree.

Peace!

Happy Easter!