Spiritual or Religious?

I have pondered this thought for some time.  Am I Spiritual or Religious?  Some people who truly know me will say I am both.  My family would say that I am both as well.  When you look on the various websites, not just dating websites but Facebook profiles and the like - some people write they are Spiritual and not Religious.  Then I said to myself - what's the difference?  Growing up as a Catholic I always thought both were intertwined.  So I decided had to look it up myself.  According to Wikipedia and some other sites, at one point in time both Spirituality and Religion were intertwined.  Apparently with the New Millennium Spirituality took on another meaning or approach to Religion.  Both are seeking a righteous path to a "Higher Power" but in a different way.  The "Religious" are your traditional weekly church going congregation and attend weekly Bible Study groups.  While the "Spiritual" are not necessarily against tradition but use a beyond the norm practice of praying by meditation, lighting candles, burning incense - even reading New Age/ self-help books; and the occasional Yoga.

But my question is, do you have to attend a traditional service to be "religious?"  So if I like to meditate, practice yoga and read self-help books - I'm no longer considered religious but a "spiritualists?"  And is it possible to be both?  However if you read some peoples profiles, you get an inclination that they are neither Religious or Spiritual.  They believe in GOD and that's as far is their Religion or Spirituality.  If you ask me, some of these same people believe in a "GOD" and are neither Religious or Spiritual and never have been.
Sometimes I say to myself, "oh this person believes in a higher power, does not attend church, does not pray, does not own a Bible, and have no idea how to meditate."  Now does that make them an atheist?


All I can answer is for myself:  I am both Religious and a Spiritualist!  I attend Mass weekly, I light candles at home, burn incense (which they do in Catholic Churches), pray and meditate;  and I have a Bible at home as well as a Kabbalah, Quran, Wicca, and Chakra books.  I also practice Astrology, Numerology, do Tarot readings and follow the ways of my ancestors - the Yoruba people...

Peace Be Unto You,
ACHE

Rocky+         

Death of an Angel

On the eve of my sister's Anniversary, I decided to dedicate this blog to my only sibling Lina...

Two things I know for sure (quoting Oprah), is that DEATH is final and ANGELS always surround us!
I know some Christians state that Death is not the end but the beginning.  Try telling that to a mother who lost her child too soon or to a child who will never feel his mother's kisses again.  Since I lost my sister in 2003 due to a hospital error, I try to remain rational about it and not bitter.  And for some strange reason this was the one time in my life I did not question GOD.  Was it because I seen her suffering and knew that Death would ease her pain?  Is it because I was raised in the Church and knew their was some religious meaning behind it, and I was not suppose to question GOD?  In any event my sister is not here physically but she is definitely my personal ANGEL...

As I type this I laugh because my sister always told me I should write a book.  She would come up with all kinds of book titles - sarcastically chronicling my life.  If she knew I was beginning to write a weekly blog, she would come up with all kinds of ideas for me to write about and then let everyone know on Facebook to read it!  lol.

On an endnote - as my sister lied in the hospital in a medically induced coma, I was about 5 months pregnant.  Three months later after her passing, on what would have been her 29th Birthday - I gave birth to my oldest son!  How could I be mad at GOD...

R.I.P. Wilkelina Carmen Gonzalez (11/28/74-08/29/03)

(i love you sis - always had and always will)      

FORGIVENESS...

For the past few weeks that is all I been hearing.  Perhaps I am watching too many religious programs?  They say " Forgive so you can be Forgiven,"  "Forgive them for Yourself not for Them."  And I say to myself - Forgive those who have hurt me or did me wrong in order to achieve what?!  Have you ever had a friend or a family member or even a co-worker that did something to you so inconceivable that it is Unforgivable?!  I can probably write at least 2-3 heart-wrenching stories, that would change the minds of the most honorable Christian into not forgiving.  All I know is that Forgiveness must come from within!  Not until one gets over the hurt and pain someone else has caused them, it is real hard to FORGIVE.

I prayed a lot in my past and I find myself now praying often, but even prior to that - I have Forgiven people who most would think was not worthy of being Forgiven.  It took me a long time.  All I can say is that I am at a certain point in my life both mentally and spiritually that Forgiveness is not an issue.  I figured if I can Forgive my enemies that maybe HE will Forgive me as well?!

But I do ask myself one thing:  Is it still Forgiveness if I just FORGET about the whole situation as if it did not exist in the first place?  For example, There once was a Family Dilemma, Ordeal, Situation (I am not even sure what to call it) - which did not end well at all!  Instead of going into sordid details, I will just say I dealt with the problem after it happened by ignoring everyone!  I chose not to deal with it!  Therefore instead of harboring feelings and emotions of resentment, anger, hatred - I Let It Go... I do not know how or why, but I did - while some family members can not even talk about it.  And justly so - but as I look around ten years later, I noticed how the bitterness has consumed them.  I do not understand myself how I was able to Forgive and Forget?!  Perhaps because I chose to avoid it and Forgot about it - that Forgiveness was attainable!!

Take it from me - It Is better to Forget and Forgive...

Telling the Truth & Being Honest?

As I was thinking about what to write for my third post, I read an article about an author who wrote about something personal that had happened to her in her life.  She said for so many years of being an author she never wrote about something so personal from her life.  The reward was liberating just from being Honest.  I always felt that "the Truth would set you free."  But how candid should one be?  As I read the news feed of my many 'fans' on Facebook, I think "oh my how personal are we getting!"  I am not talking about my ghetto friends I grew up with in the projects, but some of my most educated elite colleagues.  And we are not talking about their debates over politics or religion,  but personal issues regarding their relationships.  I mean really?!  Is there nothing else you can probably write about that can possibly help or inspire someone?!

I must admit I am guilty of this "honesty" thing as well.  Just a few weeks ago I wrote about a personal dilemma I had with regards to a surgical procedure I elected to do.  Although I was not proud of this decision, none-the-less I felt it had to be done.  Mind you, I posted updates of this outpatient procedure that ended up into an overnight admission.  I mentioned how I hemorrhaged and needed a blood transfusion, but refused it.  I never mentioned what the actual procedure was but I knew one could add 2+2.  Was it rewarding?  Not the least liberating confessing my sins on a social networking site among 700+ friends.  However it did feel comforting to know people actually cared when they commented on my posts.

So is it worth telling the truth and being honest?  My guess it would be an individual choice...

Why is LIFE so Difficult?!

I'm not just saying that in regards to my own personal life, but you can see it all around - at work, on the train, walking the streets, even at church.  When I decided to post to my blog weekly, I wanted to (hopefully) inspire people.  Give them words of encouragement without sounding "preachy."  Sometimes we get all wrapped up in our self-pity, we forget that others we know are going through worst things.  I think a part of me is writing this particular post because of all the Violence Against Children crimes here in New York.  Seems like every week children are being shot randomly although by accident.  I can not even watch the news because of all this Gun Violence.  Makes a mother want to keep her children home all the time. Meanwhile the government is crying about the obesity rate among our children in this nation.  With everything that is going on in the world who would want to take their kids anywhere?  As I think about those words "why is life so difficult" - my heart goes out to the parents who lose their kids in the streets due to gun violence, gangs, drugs & a host of other things.  Then I realize my life is not so bad after all!  The bills will get paid in time, but for now - I will enjoy my life as simple as possible and with my children...(And the next time       I hear my son complain that his life is so horrible because I won't buy him another X-Box, DS, or WII game - I'm going to show him the news.)