This I Believe
by F. John Neuhauser

The process of  explaining what one believes is an interesting  and in some ways an inherently flawed one.  Although rarely specified by one individual in a query about ones beliefs, it is generally understood that the inquirer is not  curious about the other persons beliefs on the current  barometric pressure or if the bus they are waiting for will arrive on time. Such questions usually pertain to more deeply pondered things. Matters of the spirit are usually what are triggered within my own psyche  when  questioned about my beliefs . For some this may elicit thoughts on political matters or perhaps social structure. Webster’s defines belief as conviction or faith, trust or opinion. To me,  beliefs are thoughts  or amalgamations of thoughts that  for any number of reasons become internally cemented as truths or  foundations.

The concept of  putting my beliefs or “what I believe” in written form is new to me and has been fascinating!  I’ve realized that to explain my beliefs to someone has almost  always been a blood pressure event for me. Why is that?  Is it that verbally expressing  my beliefs to someone causes me to oversimplify or paraphrase my beliefs?  Is it that I am manifesting the common human tendency, or dare I call it a need to tell other people what to do or think. Perhaps these dynamics and others are at work in such situations. Putting my beliefs in writing is having the opposite effect on me. I find myself taking a closer and perhaps more fresh look at what I believe. Time and experience it seems cause ones beliefs to evolve and mature, if not waiver in priority. My beliefs about God and the soul of a human being are loosely,  but at the same time decisively rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition. My spiritual orientation is no doubt largely tied to my upbringing in the Roman Catholic Church. Although, I haven’t  been a practicing member of that faith for decades. I think that some of my beliefs had their genesis internally; through prayer, meditation and perhaps directly through my connection to God and the Universe.

At this stage in my life,  I often find myself contemplating external, or shall I say  the here and now issues .There are so many systems on the planet that seem at or near the breaking point . Many of  natures systems already appear to be biting  back or at least bearing their fangs in defense.  Is the natural world capable of such  malice towards an entity that seemingly means it harm?  I believe it is!! Similarly, it seems that so many of the systems that are part of the human equation are in disarray. Geo-political systems, monetary systems, trade and commerce systems,  just to name just a few. Social systems that have evolved over thousands of years of human interaction also seem to be under assault. A brave new world of personal computing  and communication devices,  has in the blink of an eye,  forever changed the way we relate to each other in our daily lives. The threat of grave trouble and chaos is as any  follower of history knows, nothing new. I believe that the stakes are just so much  higher in the present time. I suppose in a sense,  that many of my most recently formed beliefs actually are about a barometric pressure of sorts. I believe,  if there were a barometer that measured the general wellbeing of our world,  it would be calling for stormy weather.

I believe that the human family is at a crossroads .We are also directing  traffic at that crossroads and how we choose to do so undeniably effects virtually every other family that makes up the web of life on this, our fragile and precious planet Earth!  If we are to rise to the occasion,  we must utilize powers that I believe have been divinely gifted to us. Powers of compassion, of co-operation, of forgiveness, of resolve, of fortitude and of course a most divine power, that, of Love.

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