Paths and People

I believe that "there are as many paths to God as there are people" (Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict XVI).

I hope this blog will be a crossroads where hundreds and thousands of those paths cross. I will share experiences and resources that draw on both faith and the common human experience. All too often it is our differences, not commonalities, that are highlighted.

Though writing under a pen name, I'm openly a practicing Roman Catholic. My spirituality and religion are integral parts of who I am. However, my strongest convictions haven't come from a catechism lesson or sermon I passively received on Sunday.  It has been life experience, my own and of others, study of human nature and psychology, and a delving into what was behind those lessons and sermons that have led me to make my own the ethical and moral principles I try to live by. 

That said, this is not meant to be a religious or evangelization blog.  It is meant to be spiritual.  I have yet to meet anyone who adamently disagrees with our make-up as human beings including both body and spirit, tangible and intangible.  I can't help but share books, reflections and resources that I have found to be of particular wealth; many will be religious or spiritual, many will not.  My goal is simply to help each person reading to begin a process of personal reflection that leads to positive action - in our relationships, both inwardly and outwardly.

The last posting spoke of growth, movement and stagnation.  I do believe it is God's mercy to take us each along a very personal path to Himself, to true peace with ourselves, others and the world around us.  He knows our past, our present and our future...and He sees the seeds of goodness in all of it.  May we begin to see with the eyes of our own hearts and minds, this goodness in ourselves and our lives.

Another "fence-link": What do I see as one of the darkest moments/periods of my life?  Looking at it removed from the immediately associated feelings and emotions, what goodness has this brought to my life since then?  How have those closest to me been positively affected by that experience?