Monday, January 9, 2012

I believe...

I BELIEVE...

What does it mean to say, “I believe…”?

“We want more from religion now than rules.  We want something to help us find meaning in life when all the rules cease to make sense, when all the old systems break down or fade away.  We want a glimpse of God here and now… There is something beyond us; there is something bigger than we are that calls us on; there is purpose to life.”

“Belief is not contrary to fact.  It simply transcends it.  To believe something is to know its truth not so much in our minds, but in the center of our souls…. In sum, belief is the ability to know what we cannot see… Belief is sure in the way that truth is sure.  It rings in our hearts like tines on crystal.”

“To say ‘I believe’ is to say yes to the mystery of life.”

Practice:   Take some time this week to tune into the amazing mysteries of life that surround you.  Don’t try to understand them.  Just notice them, acknowledge them, and recognize God as their origin.  Then tell someone else about them…

Quotations from Benedictine sister Joan Chittister’s book In Search of Belief, which explores the Apostles’ Creed phrase by phrase, demonstrating how the Creed is not a static set of rules or statements, but a living document that speaks to the deepest meaning of our existence and serves as a life guide, calling all of us to engage more deeply in relationship with God and with each other.  Sr. Chittister’s thoughts challenge us to live the Creed more fully as Christians; her writing is thought-provoking and inspirational.

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