XXXI. WHAT'S WRONG WITH RELIGION ?

          In the parable  "The Prodigal Son", storytellers usually neglect the part where the father said to his obedient son - "Son you're always with me, and everything I have is yours." They always give emphasis to the part that the father welcomed his prodigal son with open arms, and even held a feast in his honor, with the most repeated part of the sermon - "We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again ; he was lost and is found."

          Similarly, "The Parable of the Lost Sheep", exclaims that there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous person who do not need to repent (Luke 15 : 3-7).  Since the beginning, God had been the Good Shepherd who rescues His lost sheep. However, at times the listeners do not fully understand the other side of the message that God too love equally those who do not sin, who too should rejoice, without feeling envy for the attention given the lost sheep, and welcome him back to their fold.

          It is like asking which leg of the table is more important.  One leg break or lost, the table could no longer serve its purpose.  Or similarly,  a deck of cards cannot be used in a game of poker if one card is missing, so we have to find the lost one to make it a game. The joy of finding the lost card is morely expressed than having the other 51 cards on hand, but it never diminish the significance of the 51 cards. There was nothing wrong with the 2 parables, just in the telling of those who preach about them - for no one is favored more and each one will receive what is justly for him to receive.

          Religion's main purpose is to give meaning to life.  The search however, due to difference in race, cultural system of behavior and practices, or the so called "order of existence, have caused the affiliation of different people to different beliefs of the "divine", each group criticizing the other and heading to different paths of salvation. Human history is full of conflict between these contending religions, most of the time leading into bloody wars and confrontations. Instead of serving as an instrument to unite the world into one global race worshiping one "true God", it has continued to cause more divisions between races, countries and even families.

          Some people even spend their whole life studying and forever debating about "life after death" neglecting how the present life should be lived. People could not even differentiate between being religious from being spiritual. Some are enslaved, following blindly, the faith they have embraced. Some question their faith, coming up with their own interpretation, and build their own following. And for some, the search for "truth" goes on until they find themselves in the "calling" they have waiting for. The sad truth is that there is so much money going around that there are some who enrich themselves preaching their own version of the "truth" and profiting from the religion they teach. And worse, as a political weapon, to wage war against their rival religions.

          Things happen for a reason. Everyday, the sun rises from the east, bringing hope that someday

the "truth" about all these conflicting beliefs will unite men into one common faith. The debate about which religion is holding the "truth" is a never ending one and I do not wish to get into one - I just feel like sharing what I have learned.  We hold nothing, for we came into this world naked and unknowing of anything, given a short span of life in a surrounding not of our own choosing with strange people including our parents and siblings not of our own picking. We just got into something that we have to figure out where were going and given all the choices available on how to get there. Other people exist for the very same reason, so are the animals and other living things that we'll get into contact with, as we go on with our lives. Everything that passes our way, leaves something for us to learn from. Clues are provided to us, some messages are to be figured out and some signs are to be deciphered, all we have to do is believe that Someone out there love us and we are here to enjoy all the blessings He provide us with. A great Father to all us Who wanted us to find our way of getting back to Him after all these adventures are through.

          Our heart, even as a child tell us through its beating if we're doing something that poses danger or harm to us. It never lies, but it could harden if we keep on going against its warnings, until the time that we get used to the feeling of ignoring the signs it provides us. Our mind only functions to provide us with scenarios on how things will go if we push through with what we are thinking. Our mind gives us a road map but its our heart that controls the wheel, and go where we want to go. Yet no matter how wrong we are in the road we are travelling, we could make U-turns, shift gear or make stops. Its our call all the way but we have to contend with the "real truth" that someday, not of our calling, things will come to an end. We have to make a life of the time we're given, make it count, and try to leave something good for future generation to be of use for their own lives.

          Life is a race. We can choose what kind of race it would be for us. It could be a sprint to some, wanting to be the fastest one to reach the finish line for gold and glory. We could train for a marathon, for life is a long race where the fittest rule. But I find it like a relay race, an Ironman challenge, that we hope to make a good headway, so when we pass on the baton to our next teammate, he will be a little bit ahead of the race.  We may not go for the gold and the glory, but we have to run the race, and write our own record as we go take every step before we reach the finish line. 

         
          I guess I have made a good run, and right now i choose to be just in the crowd to watch other runners do their thing. Someone has to cheer, record what is happening, and make some analysis on how the race was run.  Maybe someday someone will pick up from where I stopped ...I guess I know now where the good seats are. I may not be on the best seat to watch the race but I have a good view of it, and its time for me to pay back my Maker.