In my everyday search for God and a connection to this Earth, our Universe, flora, fauna, and mankind, I have become very aware of a subtle change in my approach to finding that serenity. I have found it less about a God like figure and more about the reality of what we know. I am not an atheist nor am I an agnostic, but I believe our God is a Universal force that remains a mystery. Perhaps that sounds confounding or maybe even more common, but what I’ve come to realize is a disconnection with my community. I am a Roman Catholic from birth and have done everything there is to do in the Church except become a priest. My father took great joy in his activities as decorator of the altar, Minister of the Eucharist, Usher, Mom & Dad Club president, you name it, he did it. So did I. He had a sense that life revolved around his religion. I stopped that feeling several years earlier the more I educated myself about the Church, its history, and the following now present within my community. I took special efforts to see through the ultra-conservative demonic racism and sexism I witnessed, and even tried to rationalize it away as learned behavior that should be forgiven, but the behaviors only worsened through the last several election cycles. There seemed to be a permission given to those who protect their sanctity and ideals by slaying other’s rights and beliefs. In some instances to the point of outright ridicule hoping to create a one, and only one, way of life devoid of any type of diversity. Along those lines traverse economic and acceptance principles that are so Darwinian it makes me shudder to wonder what side of the crest I fall within the minds of the new ultra-right religious. I feel more comfortable in the woods or on the water than I do a church. I feel more connected to life and energy around me by actually being out and about instead of cloistered and huddled within a tight group of people who hate others. Hate is a strong word, but that tight group of people will claim they can accept anyone different, but they can’t. They make choices to avoid and cancel others out as if they don’t exist. Is their God, Savior, and religion that cruel? I know they believe it to be the “only way”, but how Christian is that to essentially not care if others exist or not? That may sound rather crass and harsh, but that is the feeling one gets, and I can say actually heard and witnessed, if one is an outsider. The arrogance and misanthropic attitude will be the underpinning toward the destruction of a way of life so many try so hard to keep bottled up. And, at least for the Catholic’s, the Vatican is richer than most nations while many die of starvation. The Church has continued rules and catechisms that have protected child rapists and sexual deviants within their own ranks for centuries – and have yet to change those rules or beliefs – yet wish to prosecute everyone for everything and throw away the key, including a belief, by many, in the death penalty. My ramblings may be just that to most, but I for one have grown more appreciative of my fellow human being and found a more depth of spirit outside my Catholic religion. I hope where ever you are in your search for serenity and tranquility, you find a similar space. I only hope that what ever path that is, acceptance and love become the most used words in your vocabulary.