Monday, August 22, 2005

Belief

I sat down to write what "I believe," but not one concrete, irrefutable belief rose to the surface of my mind.  They've been sat on, shot at, sliced and diced so much over theyears that they no longer float.  Besides, what earthly good are those beat-up, vaporous commodities I call "my beliefs?" What positive result could come from my crowing about them?

We use the words "I believe" so often as clubs…weapons… They are the yardsticks by which I measure my own worth, and build myself up to lofty heights; and by which I measure your worth, too, and find you wanting. You don’t believe exactly as I do? Your unbelief threatens and mocks my belief. I cannot know you. I cannot abide you. We are enemies.

Beliefs are not forever. The grit of the passing years changes them, refines them, erodes them. The explosion of a new political reality obliterates some, spawns others. The chafing of people closest to my heart, building and embellishing their own beliefs, reshapes or erases beliefs I thought etched on my very bones. Not an easy transformation. It hurts. Yet, if we don’t submit to that molding and changing, we turn to stone. Dead, impenetrable, cold, immovable stone.

What do I believe? I believe that rather than piling up and polishing my own beliefs, my time is better spent researching and admiring yours.

12 comments:

  1. I believe I will never regret having been too kind
    Marti

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm with you...all my beliefs are too damn depressing to even bother with right now.  I believe I ought to have a glass of wine and go to bed!  LOL!  Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  3. True that. Everything seems to be in flux. I reinvent the wheels everytime I am faced with a dilemma...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happened upon your entry while perusing and debating about starting my own.  Planning to visit more often in the future with hopefully more to say...thanks for welcoming strangers.  Rea

    ReplyDelete
  5. Happened upon your entry while perusing and debating about starting my own.  Planning to visit more often in the future with hopefully more to say...thanks for welcoming strangers.  Rea

    ReplyDelete
  6. HUM.....

    Perchance it is the passing of time that adds beauty to the tarnish in such a way that polishing would actually be a shame.  Some objects age to a petina of gray and some simply fade...I believe in you Lisa.  That's what friends do.  I'll sing your song back to you when you've forgotten the words.

    I KNOW that you have strong beliefs....just one mention of Bush proves that.

    I also know from what you've shown that there is a beautiful and poignat soul lurking beneath your words.

    Truly yours,  Christina

    ReplyDelete
  7. this is well written, but kind of sad.  I know you have beliefs.  You believe in the power of friendship.  You believe in standing up for what you know is right.  You believe there has to be a better way to run this country.  You believe in defense of the constitution.  You believe, I think you've just been hurt so many times by believing that you can't bear to see anymore of them crushed.  I believe one voice can make people listen.  I hear you.  ((((hugs))) You are educating the World, even when its difficult.  Please believe in you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Geez, Lisa, I couldn't do this one either. There are so many more things that I don't believe.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lisa-
    What can I say? Very well said.

    Gayla
    http://journals.aol.com/schoolgal040/SoMuchMore

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nicely said.  I'm like you, my beliefs seem to have become more fluid over the years, as I've come to realize that "beliefs" and "facts" are two different things!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Enjoyed reading about your ideas on belief.   The times they are a changin.  mark

    ReplyDelete