on the Pilgrimage

For the entries over this weekend, I will take a break from my Wrestling with God series (WWG) to do my own personal examination and reflection of the significance of these days to humanity.  Now, to begin, I come from a decidedly Christian background.  And, the foundation of what I believe today has its roots in a form of Christianity. I was born into a Christian (Lutheran) family, my relations on both sides go back as practicing Christians for centuries, I was baptized in Lutheran theology, graduated from a Lutheran university, and have a personal obsession with learning about theology and different belief systems. I have learned a bit more from various external sources than the average pew-bench warmer; yet, I am certain that I still have much to learn. "The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know!" < a life mantra of mine!   What that means, for me, is that my belief - if I claim the identity of a Christian - needs to be founded and grounded i...

  “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When do you hear these words? When do you ask this question?   What was your answer when you were asked this question? This is something that is often asked of a young child – someone who might not yet be in school, or maybe has barely begun school. Answers are often along the lines of ‘a doctor’ or ‘a nurse’ or ‘a teacher’. Traditional, stereotypical roles. If you ask a child who’s a little older, you might get different answers – like, a girl saying she wants to be a scientist or a pilot or a boy saying he wants to be a fashion designer or a kindergarten teacher. These a wonderful, lovely answers! They are not as traditional and show the development of creativity. These children are beginning to embrace who they are and what they instinctively know about themselves. Have you ever thought about what your answers were when you were young? What that might have said about you and your developing identity? I was pondering this th...