Hello,
My name is Lou Redmond and I so appreciate you allowing me to share with you here.
Recently on Insight Timer,
I did something unusual.
I used the word God without caveating or whatever word works for you,
Great spirit,
Source,
Universe,
Higher self,
Etc.
I usually give these options because I know many are triggered by that word,
Often from growing up with the image of a wrathful God that looks like an old white man with a beard sitting on a throne judging.
That is far from what I mean by God.
The irony is we're trying to talk about something that has no words.
As St.
Augustine said,
If you can comprehend it,
It's not God.
Not naming God is what makes the Buddha's teachings so brilliant.
Instead,
He shows us a path,
Teaches us a practice,
And says,
Come experience for yourself.
The omission of God is why Buddhism tends to attract people who are fed up with Western religion or are more secular in their beliefs.
The Buddha was wise knowing that not giving people a deity to find out there would lead them to look inside where the real treasure lies.
While it doesn't really matter what we call the infinite energy of all that is,
For me,
God resonates.
As I grow in my spirituality,
I feel drawn closer to my Catholic roots and have been digging more into Christian and Western mystics.
With my interest and background,
It hit me.
Why do I always feel the need to explain myself?
I use God,
I feel God,
Why don't I just own it?
What am I scared of?
I'm embarrassed to say that I'm afraid of losing you as a listener.
I'm afraid you'll judge me as some religious zealot talking about the God that you came to meditation to get away from.
And this is ironic coming from the guy who has a course on here called Learn to Stop Caring What Others Think.
When you look back at your life,
Would you rather be someone who spoke their truth or ensured everyone liked them?
Often we can't have both.
So last week I decided to speak it how I feel it.
I used God and I did caveat.
I prepared to get a backlash from people,
But to my pleasant surprise,
It was received well.
I learned that it's okay to trust speaking my truth.
If people don't like it,
That's their issue.
We have to step bravely towards what's right for us,
What's calling us,
And understand that it's okay if not everyone gets it.
And when this happens,
When we stand in our truth,
The ones who do get it will appreciate us even more.
Is there anything in your life that you're tiptoeing around what you want to say?
What will happen if you unapologetically speak your truth?
Try it out and I'd love to hear how it goes.
Let me know how you experience God.
I'd love to hear your shares in the comments.
So feel free to share and would love to also get a chance to connect with you in the future,
Whether that's on another meditation or whether that's on my circle.
You can just search Lou's Circle.
I wish you much love and support for your journey.
Hope to connect again soon.
Namaste.
