How to Get on Track with Your Faith

Maybe your parents were brazen atheists. Or maybe you were so suffocated by religion growing up that it’s lost its magic. Maybe organized religion just isn’t for you. Here are some ways you can reach into your soul, and tap into the spirit that all of us wear inside.

1)      First, write five words at the top of the page and make five columns, one for each. Respectively mark each “God” “heaven” “death” “forgiveness” “miracles”. Then without thinking fill out each column with ten words each. Now stare at this paper. Don’t lose it. This sheet lets you know where you stand and where you can figure out patterns in your faith (or lack thereof)

2)      Hit the library. Grab some books from different religions and ideologies. Your faith, your spiritual journey is a mishmash of knowledge. What gems will you acquire from a library? At the very least you can tell what you don’t believe in…such as offering up virgins in the light of a full  moon.

3)      Talk to people of faith. These don’t have to just be priests or rabbis, they can be any citizen full of faith. You are going to upgrade your worksheet that you filled out at the beginning so keep an ear out for any moments. Someone once put (a little clunkily) “There are no coincidences, there are only God instances” which sounds kind of lame but I actually agree with it. I believe in miracles. That things do happen for a reason. It is the reason I am alive today.

4)      Speak to an atheist (yes it can be a parent. No, it can’t be yourself). You don’t have to get into a full fledged fight over the son of God but hearing a few atheist arguments can actually enforce our own beliefs. Neither “side” has proof. But we don’t need proof, because we have faith. Thus we come out feeling better and comforted knowing God is with us.

5)      Create a faith journal, which you can document any acts of God in your life. You could write prayers and gratitudes. God has given  us so much, he loves when we are grateful and acknowledge all that is right in our life rather than what we don’t have.

6)      Take a retreat for yourself. Preferably somewhere quiet in nature. Take some time to journal or simply tarry (talk) with God. Listen to God. He eventually tells us what he wants. The problem is we might not want to  hear it.

7)      You don’t need to go temple or church or mosque to dedicate several times a week to God. You can have the whole damn ritual in your living room. Light some incense (if you want. It’s atmospheric) and get to work. This is your time with God (or Allah or nameless deity). Maybe you’ll read from a prayer book or a book of meditations. Maybe you’ll sing. Maybe you’ll even do Gregorian chants. Maybe you’ll mindfully eat an apple while focus on your intention for the week.

8)      There are several things you need to square away about your spiritual life. How does your God look at sin? How does your God  look at homosexuality? What happens after we pass away? Is there a heaven and  if there is will the bouncer let us in? Take a long time to tarry the tough questions to get to know this new religion/ spiritual life you have been building.

9)      Don’t ever let anyone tell you your spiritual life isn’t valid because you didn’t do such and such or because you follow blah. Your spiritual life is yours. If you choose to share it, that’s great and I’m happy you feel proud about what you created. But if you prefer it to keep it to yourself that’s fine. Many people do. 

10)  After about six months adjusting to your spiritual life, take a look at the paper you wrote at the beginning of your new spiritual life. Maybe everything will be completely different and your ideas about God have done a 180. Maybe now you believe in multiple Gods. Maybe your inner atheist is rearing its head. It’s still worth doing this sixth months from now. Faith is ever evolving just as we are. We deserve to give it a chance.