RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY-THE TWO ARE AS ONE

A plane is a means of getting from one country to another.  A car is a means of getting from one city to another.  A boat is a means of getting me from one side of the lake to another.  I want a well constructed plane, car, or boat, maintained to keep it in good working order and able to accomplish its objective.  But the focal point of my journey is not the vehicle but on my destination.  The vehicle is important but it is the means to the end, not the end itself.

My religion is my relationship with God.  My spirituality is the fruit of that relationship.  My religion sustains my spirituality.  My spirituality sustains my religion.  The two create one boat to get me to the other side, from this world to the kingdom of God, where God dwells.  Time spent working on and maintaining the boat is time well spent; but it is only the means to the end, not the end itself.  Mending the nets, plugging the holes in the boat, tuning the engine, and other maintenance is crucial, but it is all for the purpose of growing my relationship with God and being faithful to his will for my life.

It is easy to get all caught up and consumed by the maintenance of the boat, the mending of the nets, and miss the reason and purpose for it all.  I get caught up and distracted by what I am doing and lose sight of the One I want to get closer to. When my boat comes into shore God will be glad to see me, not my boat.

The temple was not the end all and be all.  The Bible was not the end all and be all.  They are simply ways to the One who is the end all and be all.

I am tired and weary of fighting and arguing about religion and spirituality.  I simply want to do what I need to do to be in God’s Presence here and in the kingdom to come.