Let's celebrate the differences between us all

Why must we judge one another? Here we are at the threshold of the twenty first century and still we cannot accept the differences between us, between our beliefs. Personally I love the differences. One Louise is quite enough. How boring if all eight billion human beings on this planet thought the same, had the same skin color and the same beliefs.

Sunday I felt honored to spend the evening with several women and one man welcoming spring in a lovely ceremony. When I have talked with some friends about my experience I was questioned about my participation. "Did I realize I was participating in a pagan ceremony? In witch craft?" Yes on all counts. However the ceremony was not performed by a coven of witches, merely nature or earth oriented women. And what is wrong with that? Are we going to go back to burning witches? The word pagan got its bad reputation with the expansion of Christianity. It grew out of fear. Pagan was first defined as one who worshipped the old gods and goddesses. Today a pagan is one who practices a religion other than Christianity. That would include Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian, American Indian, Earth-worshipping god and goddesses, etc.

Sue Monk Kidd wrote a profound book, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, about her journey as a "conventionally religious church going woman" and her awakening or transformation as a Christian feminist. She writes about nature being one of woman's most potent healers. I highly recommend this book to my Christian friends. I just bring this up so that you realize you can be both Christian and a nature lover.

I realize I am unable to discuss this issue with everyone. Many of us are not open minded about injustice, hate and judgment. Sadly I am not able to talk to my father about my experience with these loving compassionate women. Growing up I was one of the unusual kids. (Guess I still am.) I didn't question my father. My husband was always amazed that I thought my father was always right. That has changed. I now realize every situation is not strictly black or white. There is some gray. Dad now says "I understand my sons, but I just can't understand my daughters." Perhaps that is because he is a man in a patriarchal ruled world. Perhaps that is changing.

So let's think before we speak. Why not be curious rather than judgmental? There is no reason why we must believe what everyone says, but why not allow yourself the opportunity to hear a person's viewpoint. I truly believe we can coexist with different religions without war. Have I been listening too much to John Lennon?