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Health & Fitness

In Search of Good Spirit

I am visiting different houses of worship from all religions and denominations, because I desire to be where there is a feeling of good spirit wherever it can be found. It's been moving.

I have been visiting all kinds of different houses of worship from all religions and denominations. I have no interest in converting from my faith in the least, rather I simply want to go where there is a feeling of good spirit, wherever it is.

I went by Palisades Lutheran Church and spoke to the office manager about attending an event. I told her I was not of the Lutheran faith but wanted to go where there was good spirit. My eyes welled up as I told her. I was a bit embarrassed, but she was so very kind. That night I attended and found myself in tears looking up at the stained glass of Jesus and hearing the Christmas carols. There was good spirit there, and I was feeling it.

Recently I attended an interfaith discussion at Corpus Christi. Each time I turned my head and looked at the area where the memorial candles are lit, my eyes welled up. Years ago when I was in Jerusalem, I went up to the Western Wall and found myself bursting into tears. Again, in each place I felt good spirit. When I go to the bluffs on Asilomar on a day like today with the large blue expanse and sun glistening on the water, tears arise. Good spirit seems to be everywhere I go.

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When I was in Jerusalem the tour guide told us that King Solomon was given a divine order to build a house of worship, and so he built the First Temple. I thought to myself that perhaps King Solomon took the order too literally. Could it be that such a house dwells in our hearts and that was where King Solomon was meant to focus his attention. I wonder how things would have turned out had he made that interpretation.

Some say isms create schisms. Maybe that is true, but need they? If religions are operated from good spirit and hospitality to all perhaps schisms may transform into bridges. It's something to think about this holiday season.

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