Joys and Trials

I found this on Pisco’s site; am tagging myself.

Rules

1. You have to use your own belief system for the meme. No fair using someone else’s to make a joke or satire. Being humorous about your own religion is encouraged!
2. You have to have at least one joy and one trial. More are encouraged. And no, they don’t have to be equal in length, but please be honest.
3. You have to tag at least one other person. More are appreciated!
4. Please post these rules!
   

The joys of being a formerly pago-Christian-Buddhist, cradle and returned (with a vengeance) Episcopalian:

1. I can (and do!) have friendly discussions about faith with all kinds of people.
2. I’ve experimented with all kinds of belief systems. I know who I am.
3. I can appreciate one practice in the context of another: i.e. meditation and centering prayer.
4. I love creating liturgies—and I have a rich background to draw from.
5. I can, and do, call God Mother—or any name I choose.
6. I can listen to rocks, when they speak to me.
7. This is my family.
8. And this is my family.
9. This is also my family. (I’m sitting, 4th from the left, in purple.)
10. There is no difference between (8) and (9).
    

The trials of being a formerly pago-Christian-Buddhist, cradle and returned (with a vengeance) Episcopalian:

1. I crave more silence than I get.
2. I love the rhythm of the Prayer Book language.
3. I do not always love the language itself.
4. Too much of our worship happens inside.
5. I have no patience whatsoever for wider Church politics. But many of my friends are embroiled in them.
6. My own church is great about losing the seriousness. We are a minority.

Tagging:
Max
Mimi
Cheryl (because she hasn’t blogged in a million years)
Juniper
Jane
lj