Nobody puts baillee in the corner

Before I start this, let it be known this blog post isn’t meant to offend anyone. These are my personal beliefs, and I’m not trying to convert or excommunicate anyone. Everything I’m writing here is based off of my personal experience. Remember that as you read. Here we go…

I’m religious. Although I am not fully converted, I identify as Catholic, and I have for five years. While there are aspects of the religion I don’t agree with, it’s the first time I’ve ever felt at ease with church or ideology. I pray. I participate in Lent. I wear a cross around my neck I keep an Our Lady of Guadalupe candle constantly burning in my apartment. However, I’m also down with birth control, I don’t believe LGBT individuals are going to Hell, I swear a lot, and I think that’s totally fine.

In my humble little opinion, I view God as a pretty chill dude (or even The Dude, if you will). When I pray, it’s like catching up with a friend. I’ve laughed while praying. I’ve dropped “jk” when speaking with the Almighty. I see nothing wrong with it. I’m a firm believer that you have the right to form your own image of God to make Him more approachable. To be totally honest, I’m listening to Lil Wayne while I’m writing this, and I think it’s making the man upstairs chuckle. I think God has a sense of humor. For example, I was once working out and “No Air” by Jordan Sparks came on my playlist at the end of my run. I didn’t even know I had the song on the playlist. It’s moments like this that affirm for me that there is a comical air to the Holy Trinity. I mean, the rule of comedy is three, right?

For me, there is also a flexible line between religion and spirituality. Spirituality, for me at least, is the idea of being in tune with not only the universe, but yourself. It’s the experience of seeing a band live for the first time and getting lost in the music. It’s sitting on the patio of my apartment at dusk during the summer and watching fireflies light up the creek. It’s the feeling you get when you’ve given your only dollar to someone who needs it more. Those things are spiritually cleansing for me. It’s the idea of becoming aware that you are not the only person in the world. You are one among billions. We’re all a part of this enormous mass of earth, and each and every person has some sort of affect, whether it be good or bad. I’m a firm believer you can be spiritual but not religious or vice verse. I just happen to be both. I believe there’s someone upstairs watching us and guiding us, but we also have free will. I’m sure my friends get annoyed with me constantly repeating the phrase “everything happens for a reason,” but it’s true. There are greater forces at work here, whether they be religious or spiritual. I choose to both pray and place trust in the universe. I have a Bible and take time to do my own version of mediation (which usually consists of closing my eyes and listening to music or a podcast). Both can peacefully and simultaneously coexist.

I personally cannot understand isolating someone because of their religious or spiritual beliefs unless, of course, they are harming themselves or someone around them. I don’t walk into your home and tell you how to make your Hamburger Helper, so don’t come into my home and tell me how to make mine. Beliefs are varied. That’s what keeps life interesting and gives us shows like The X Files. The truth is out there, but it may or may not be definite. You can’t get through this insane lifetime without believing in something though. You have to put your faith in the universe, or God, or even the flying spaghetti monster. If you don’t want to worship a single entity, start believing in the things in your life. Believe in your friends and your family (and even aliens*). Believe in your memories of running barefoot through your house as a kid and all the times you laughed so hard you snorted. Believe life is more than a collective group of molecules in a petri dish. I want [you] to believe.

*I began by saying I did not want to offend anyone, so I would like to remind everyone to be inclusive of your alien family and your alien friends. I do not want anyone to feel as though they have been discriminated against.