My spiritual background. ~Kevin

Spirituality, religion, faith, or whatever you want to call it, is an ever evolving organism. Or at least, in my life it is. I am a product of the United Church of Canada because my parents were raised in that church. In fact, the church that I attend now, Scarboro United, is where my parents first met. In fact, when my mom was growing up, my Papa, her dad, was the minister there. As a kid, it would give me a warm sensation to look at his picture in the parlour, along with all the old men who had at one time preached in the walls that I knew so well. I would grab the hand of a friend, run to that wall and point. "That's my Papa!", I'd say, and I would examine the strange, yet familiar face of that young man.

Before I was old enough to know what it is my Papa did when he worked at the church, I had a very mixed up perception of God. I knew God was associated with the church, because it was the word we always started our prayers with. Eventually, I found out that God was not just a word, but rather some entity, person, thing... And like many kids, I just assumed that God was the guy standing at the front, giving the sermons, leading the prayers. My minister at that time fit the part. He was older, grey, had a white mostache and a booming voice. I would say to my parents "Is that God?" each Sunday, and each Sunday they would tell me no. But that didn't stop my believing it, until he retired. I didn't know God could retire! Well, as it turns out, that guy wasn't God. Then what was? It was so much easier to pray when I had someone to pray to. Someone real, steadfast, unchanging...

The classic Sunday school line is "God is in you. God is in everyone. God is everything. God is everywhere." For a child, it is good to have an answer, so this one answer had to do for me. But it left me with some questions. As I grew, I came to love the church. I loved it's message, it's community feeling. I still had questions. I became fairly active with the youth group, and loved every minute of it.

For a long time, it seems, I've been searching for spiritual enlightenment, which is in fact what lead me to the idea of starting a youth forum. There will be much more to come about me, and my experiences with God. Stay tuned!

Peace.



--
In the face of uncertainty, there is nothing wrong
with hope.

- O. Carl Simonton