R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts for R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Women
“She said that faith is not about how we feel; it is about how we live.” Anne Lamott; Plan B
Regardless of our specific spiritual path, attempting to live right is about making choices. That is true even if our wasband made choices that changed our family. That is true if we are in the middle of that heartbreaking journey of midlife divorce. If our “wasband” left our family for another woman (no matter how exotic she was!), we still have choices to make. We are still called to act with integrity no matter what anyone else is doing. Mark Sandford made unbelievably bad choices. He will pay the consequences. But here’s the thing: We will also be held accountable for the choices we make. We are still called to “do the right thing,” ourselves. That’s the cool (but challenging) thing about faith. We each have the freedom to make the right choice every time regardless of what those around us are doing. The true measure of our faith is if it makes a difference in the way we live and the joy we discover during our brief stay on this planet. During the good times and during the terrible times. If we choose to follow The Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule or precepts from Islam or Buddhism, that faith should make life better for us and for those around us. If our faith does not bring joy and fulfillment and true happiness for ourselves and those we come in contact with, then those “religious” teachings aren’t much good. The end result of faith should be among other things, peace and joy and love. But those things come not by just having faith, but by actually living a life of moral excellence the best we can. And moral excellence cannot include things like killing another person, stealing what isn’t ours, sleeping with another person’s spouse, hurting our children, giving up, being selfish. No matter what spiritual path you are on, think about this: Are these precepts and teachings I’m trying to follow making life on this earth better? If not, is it because the teachings are flawed or is it because I am not really loving God or loving other people and powerfully, confidently living the Truth every day? Another thing. Goodness always wins. Maybe not immediately, but goodness always wins. Doing right will always bring joy and peace and a life more abundant than we can even imagine. So today, keep making those good choices in spite of the storm going on around you. You’ll be utterly amazed at how incredible your life will be regardless of the bad choices others around you may be making.
“So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.” 2 Peter 1:5 (The Living Bible)
