I stopped believing the day I entered a Buddhist temple on a mission's trip.
I stopped believing when I saw the men taking off their shoes before they entered their holy place. When I witnessed their reverent bows, the intimacy with which they kissed the floor with their foreheads.
I was an 18-year-old girl fresh out of Bible School, on the streets of Vancouver, doing missions, and these men had more awe in their bare feet than I’d ever had of God, or than I’d ever witnessed in any church I’d been to. And I wondered if we weren't just lying to ourselves.
....
(i'm over here at Prodigal Magazine today; follow me there, friends, for the rest of this story? i'd be so grateful. love you.)
Link to get us there?
ReplyDeletesorry, caroline, here it is! http://www.prodigalmagazine.com/the-week-i-lost-my-faith/. bless you dear friend. xo
DeleteI think it's good to have our faith shaken once in a while. Makes us more aware. I think God welcomes our questions and enjoys revealing Himself to us. I'm one who really believes the hype about God, including the bits about Him being the creator of all things. So, if that's true, then He created Buddha, too and we would be wise to remain open to the wisdom that may be found there. God employs all manner of methods and messengers to communicate with us and teach us. We need to be discerning and careful that we don't idolize these teachers though, anymore than we should idolize or deify movie stars, or our spouses, for that manner.
ReplyDeleteYour post brought tears to my eyes and chills to my skin. Thanks for sharing. Shows us how important it is to pray when God gives us the sanctified nudge to do so.
ReplyDeleteYour writing always is a blessing to us, for you are very gifted.
ReplyDeleteI commented at Prodigal. great write. :)
Deletei love you, and i want to keep hearing your stories.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry it's been so long since I left a note, Emily. I've been busy, but I have still been soaking up your words every chance I get. I hopped over and read the rest of the post, and I can tell you that I was deeply touched. As... always. Thank you for sharing your heart :)
ReplyDeletexo
this was lovely, emily. simple and honest. love!
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