What I Believe
This week, I’d like to first, thank all of you who responded to my email and let me know you received it. This is still new to me and I’m sure this won’t be the only glitch. Thank you! Next, I’d like to share some of my beliefs with you in hopes that you will share some of your beliefs with me.
My bedrock belief is this: believing doesn’t make it so. This allows for me to believe what I believe, while making room for you to believe what you believe. This is the place where conversations can happen and we can see the world through each other’s eyes. So, here is a list of some of the things I believe.
First and foremost, I believe in God, Jehovah, Yahweh, whatever you choose to call him, the creator of the universe. He is, for me, the foundation of all life and the origin of all love.
I believe that we are all here for one purpose: to help each other get through this life. The next life will be amazing, but this one can sometimes be hard and cruel. I believe we are each supposed to do our best to become the person God intended us to be and the gifts and talents He gave each of us—the things that make us each unique and special—should be used to help others.
I believe that children, no matter how or where they come into the world, are our most precious gift and that raising them well takes time, love, and commitment.
I believe we are all family and we should treat each other with love and respect.
I believe in the miracle you receive in your own soul when you help another soul in some way. When you’re feeling bad about yourself or your situation, nothing brings you back to life like volunteering at a homeless shelter, taking food to someone who is hungry, visiting elderly people in a nursing home. We are all connected, so when you’re feeling sad and lonely, reconnecting physically with another person who is also in need (not just donating money), can work miracles for both of you.
I believe in the power of nature to soothe and heal. I dare anyone to go outside and take a walk through the beauty that is nature and not feel a softening of the heart and an easing of all the tangles in the mind.
I believe that love is the ultimate currency: not race, not religious belief, not sexual orientation, not age, not financial status-love.
I believe that believing what you believe isn’t enough. We should each do our best to live what we believe. It’s not always easy, but we should at least try.
I believe that art is not only beneficial, but that it is necessary to experiencing the spirituality and humanity of ourselves and other human beings.
I believe in expressing gratitude as a way to regain my humility when I start feeling entitled or taking things for granted.
I believe that love can prevail and the best way to help make that happen is to be loving.
I believe in the power of prayer and the power of forgiveness.
I believe that if we don’t take ownership of our own lives and decisions, someone else will.
I believe in letting someone know where you are, and in swimming with a friend.
I believe that laughter is very good medicine.
I believe in being “child-like” over being “child-ish.”
I believe in getting back up after I fall down (as soon as I’m finished laughing!).
I believe that being an adult doesn’t mean I have to act like a “grown-up.”
I believe in the innocence and wisdom of children and old folks.
I believe in telling people the good things I see in them now, instead of wishing I had later.
I believe EVERYONE has something to offer.
I believe in love and family and night-night kisses and the bonds that can be formed in the dark around a campfire.
I believe in talking to each other not at each other.
I believe in reading books that expand my understanding of the struggles of humanity and expose me to other cultures and points of view.
I believe in working for what I want.
I believe!
I believe I started writing this post as something totally different and it led me here. I hope it speaks to you! Please share some of your beliefs with us in the comments!
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Carol,
That was wonderful!
It would be neat to ask my kids what they believe too!
I am struggling with different things & ready for some changes!
Thank you for this blog this may be just what I needed!
Christine, I think asking your kids would make for a great conversation! Hopefully, the change you need is just up ahead. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for reading it!
Loved what you wrote today. We would make the world a better place by loving each other more.
Thanks! This is so true. As the saying goes, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
This made me think. We all have our beliefs but it seems they are all just floating around in our minds. Sometimes they emerge when needed, and sometimes they kind of hang back in the shadows. Since reading this, I have been searching for my beliefs and started to put them down on paper. What a great idea to pinpoint exactly what our beliefs are. Putting them on paper makes for a more concrete guideline for me to follow in my life. Thanks Carol, for the idea to clarify the things that are important to me in my life.
Lou, I think that’s a great idea to write them down. The next step is to figure out why you believe them. That makes it easier to defend them or amend them. Have you discovered a belief you can share with us?
I am having a bit of a time trying to write them down. It turns out that knowing something, and being able to articulate it, are two different things for me. But here are a few .
I believe that through giving and caring for others we are doing God’s work.
I believe that by being too proud to accept help from others we are denying them their chance to do God’s work.
I believe in humility.
I believe that putting a smile on the face of others is the best way to put a smile in our own heart.
And I will continue to work on these.
Nice! Thanks for sharing that. I think you’re articulating your beliefs just fine!
Carol, this is a beautiful, thought provoking post. I have a few beliefs besides those you listed, which I feel are important enough to enrich your article:
I believe God is “three in one”: God the Father, Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit.
I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and my Lord and Savior.
And because I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I believe I am Holy and acceptable to God, have an intimate relationship with Him and that I shall rise again to eternal life.
Thanks, Lisa. I’m right there with you. Thank you for sharing, that’s beautiful.
I’ve been thinking about the “Three in One”. Something on the edge of my memory kept bringing me back to it. Now I remember. Our mom used to say in every marriage there are three, you, me, and we. There is also three in every person, who we see ourselves as, who others see us as, and who we truly are. Also the three of life, past, present, and future. I’m not sure what this has to do with our belief system, but it kept tugging at my mind.
Thanks, Lou. That’s interesting…I’ll have to think on it.
Truth! Thanks Carol. This post is very meaningful and truly resonates with me!
Thanks Nancy. I’m glad to hear that!
As a famous band one sang, “Don’t stop believing”.
No need to worry, I won’t! Thanks for reading (and commenting!).
Love your “I Believe blog” and also the posts of other readers. I concur with all! So uplifting. Thank you.
Shelley, I’m so glad you enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing that and for being a part of our community! I love having you on this journey!
This is totally awesome! I believe in many of the same things. I love the way you wrote about your beliefs. Just beautiful and uplifting. I am loving this blog and I believe in your gift of writing and sharing with others. Thank you Carol Horton!! Love you!!
Thanks so much Susan, that means the world to me! Love you too!
I believe that it’s values that we should about. Not only what we believe in – but also about our doubts… It was the German philosophe Immanuel Kant (1724- 1804) who formulated the one value that has found its place in all major religions: “Don’t put any harm to anybody or anything”. But unfortunately, even more than 2000 years of christianity have not succeeded to prevent people to harm each other or the nature. We’re all still Kains and Abel’s! So i believe that we actually have no other choice than to life our own lives as good as possible – with respect, thankfulness, joy and humbleness. But also with a great deal of responsibility not only for ourselves but for all the nature and people of this world – with the challenge not to harm anybody or anything but rather to help wherever we are able to. Blyb – heiner
Heiner, Well said. Thanks for adding that to the conversation. I totally agree! Blyb…c