REFLECTION: On change, beliefs and faith

Socrates is credited with the famous saying “The unexamined life is not worth living.” And, in many of the great beliefs, there is a phrase similar to “He who knows himself, knows his Lord.”

It can be challenging to examine the world within us when the world around us is in such a frenzy. Our reactions to that world can tell us much about ourselves. One might ask “How do I use my beliefs — to guide my own life or to condemn others?” The answer can be revealing. We can ask ourselves the questions “Am I willing to allow other people to be themselves, or do I want them to conform to my beliefs? Am I strong enough in my faith, comfortable enough about who I am, to allow others to have their own beliefs?” Living together in harmony can require courage and self-awareness.

Nature shows us how new expressions of life unfold. A flower grows from a seed, forms a bud, and then unfolds into its splendor. We can think similarly of the world around us unfolding, expressing a greater diversity as time progresses. Yet some people want to regress to an earlier period of life which may seem more comfortable in their memory. Change can be frightening, yet if one’s faith is strong, change can be seen as an unfolding of the mysteries of creation.

One of the biggest challenges in my life is whether I can make room for people who are unlike me — can I cooperate with the unfolding story of creation?

ERNEST WARNER

Coeur d’Alene