Thought for the day

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who

gets the credit.

THE shape of our faith emerges from multiple sources: how we approach Scripture, what writings we regard as holy, what church or place of worship we attend and how much “power” and authority we give it, and the series of memorable and defining moments that make up our unique histories.

While all of these have a powerful place in shaping and reshaping our individual and community faith experience, I believe none shapes our faith experience more significantly than our experience of family and culture.

The child from an authoritarian home will often attribute, as an adult, what she or he knew and experienced at home to be a lens through which holy writings are interpreted. The absent parent, the easygoing parent, the guilt-giving parent, may all come out in the people looking for meaningful faith – and then wonder how and why others do not share their views.

It is next to impossible to truly enter the world of another – in other words to love – especially when his or her faith tradition becomes a source for my (or your) fear. It is next to impossible to truly love and embrace the “other” with love if your God apparently rejects everything upon which he or she has built a life.

It requires extraordinary grace – may it be ours today.

Smith is a family therapist in the US. He can be e-mailed at FamilyTherapist@iCloud.com.