My Faith, My Way

There was a man who was so passionate about coffee that he spent much of his time and energy working to create his perfect cup. After years of research, he felt he had found perfection.

Having created his wondrous combination of brewed coffee, he wanted to share this magical discovery with his friends. Imagine his disappointment when they mocked his work by adding two spoonfuls of sugar, or (gasp) pouring cream into his perfectly brewed concoction. Feeling insulted by the actions of his friends, he vowed to never again serve anyone coffee in his home, lest they ruin it with their barbaric practices.

He had offered what he felt was the best way to enjoy coffee, and they had rejected it. Rather than accepting his opinion of what perfect coffee truly is, they took his work and adjusted it to meet their own tastes and preferences. They had adapted it to fulfill their needs, but he could not understand that. He thought he knew what was best and refused to acknowledge that anyone else may want, or need something different.

Does this allegorical man remind you of anyone? He reminds me of those people who are convinced that their beliefs are so perfect that they should be applied universally without question, without alteration. They are the only ones who are completely correct and anyone who fails to follow their ideology is wrong and should be demeaned and ridiculed as much as possible.

What they fail to understand is that everyone has their own experiences that only they can fully appreciate. No two people view the world in the same way and no one has the right to decide for someone else. No one has the right to define what another believes.

No one.

Berating someone for not thinking like you or demeaning others because their beliefs are different is childish and petty. It takes a mature person to understand and accept the needs of others, and to acknowledge that our beliefs, no matter how comforting we may find them, may not fulfill the longing experienced by another.

Why are there so many differing sects in Christianity, or variations in Judaism? Why do atheists and agnostics hold fast to their thoughts on God? Because we all look at the world through our personal experiences. Each of us has journeyed along a path that is unique to us and no one else can truly understand it.

I do not care what you believe, but I respect your right to believe it. I politely request that you do the same for me.

Just as I determine how I take my coffee, I also determine how I take my faith...I don’t need anyone else to define it for me. I'm good thanks. Please pass the sugar.