James Stabile Informational Newsletter

 February 2005

Religion and Spiritualism...

Why do bad things happen? Good question. After the December Tsunami in Southeast Asia, news people and experts in the area have been discussing this subject. I was very glad to hear that most of the discussion revolved around the explanation that is most in agreement with my own thinking. I believe these thing happen because this is life. This is the way of the world. Events of nature are not caused by any person's or group's bad behavior. Bad things just happen to good people, but not just good people, to all people.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that the world just happens. The world is full of all types of people. All types of relationships among these people exit. All types of circumstances exist. All types of occurrences exist. Life is truly a mystery. 

There is one constant in this mystery - God. God has everything in order and control, but in that order and control He allows things to happen, He allows people to be themselves, He allows circumstances and events to play out. God will never abandon us, but he will never interfere, so to speak, in our lives. We are free to accept Him or reject Him.

Yes, we pray to the Lord and He answers every prayer, but He answers every prayer in His manner. I've always viewed God as an observer to life not a player in life. In other words, God watches over us, He knows what's going on, He let's the world reveal itself, but He doesn't "make" things happen. He doesn't make bad things happen and He doesn't make good things happen. Live just goes on. 

Does the preceding mean that man or woman has no control over their destiny? Oh no, certainly not. We are the people of God. God has provided for us everything that we need to sustain us. Every answer is available to every person, but every person does not always seek that answer. God has empowered each of us to seek and obtain the Truth and the Word. However, He leaves it up to each person to discover that Truth and Word.

We must always remember and continue to refresh our memories each and every day that this life we are now living is human life, it is not heaven. Heaven is reserved for those who have lived their human lives and have been called by God's request to join the communion of saints in a special existence. That existence is what most people call heaven. Our day to day lives are human, that includes all the human frailties, problems, emotions and situations that are truly human. How we deal with this condition will determine if we will "see" God. So, don't think that anyone in this human world is any closer or holds any secret or possesses any special "right" to God's ear, we are all equal in our ability to "see" God.

What about heaven? I've grown and matured in my conception of heaven. I don't think heaven is really a place. Rather, I think it is more of an existence. I don't think people are sitting around in heaven playing the harp or doing any of those other "heavenly" things. I think it is more like the way God described Himself to Abraham, "I am who am". We will just be there, together as one with the God forever and ever. Amen.

Does this mean that the people who are more basic and fundamental in the religious beliefs are wrong. No, not really. After all, who really, I mean really knows the story. None of us human beings. Yes, we have the Bible, but the Bible is nor an history book. It is the revelation of God's story to humans and written in the human words and syntax, which is not God's exact wording. We believe what we have been taught, but learning does not stop, it progresses throughout our lifetime. Remember Jesus told us "not to harden our hearts", I take those words to apply to our minds, too.

We can become too strict and too rigid in our religious beliefs as well as any of our beliefs. Believe what you will, but be open to new ways of viewing old ideas. God is revealing himself to each of us every day. We must be open to that revelation. I hope that I am flexible in my believes. I have strong beliefs, believe me, I just hope that I have the flexibility to look at ideas through the eyes of others. I may not change my thoughts and beliefs, but at least I will be able to empathize with other's and their ideas. 

Getting back to the bad things that happen...they are done according to God's will. Let's put that I perspective. God does not cast those bad things on us, he allows them to happen. However, at anytime God could stop the bad things from happening. When that happens, I think we will be in heaven. See you there?

Sister Joy a 27 years old woman will be taking her final nun vows very soon. She may have finalized her vows already. Why do I write about Sister Joy? Sister Joy has revitalized the call to young women to accept the call from God and dedicate themselves to God's work by accepting their vocations. Sister Joy writes "The Convent Files" found on the web page The Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This young lady is a living saint. She has proven that it is right to choose a religious vocation for one's life's work. Read about her motivating life.

February 2005 Newsletter  
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