I was always taught the two things you don’t discuss are religion and politics. I had a conversation with my dad a few months ago (one of our last, in fact). In that conversation, he was sharing with me that in this heated political climate, those two topics had been coming up quite frequently. He shared his tactic of telling anyone who brought either topic up, that he would continue the conversation with them on one condition. That condition was that neither of them could use the words “believe” or “think.” My dad was brilliant for this, for it sets the stage up front that the entire conversation is not based on fact, but rather on someone’s beliefs. It diffuses the heightened topics, before the dialogue even begins.

As I continue, writing about the subject of mostly religion, with a sprinkle of politics, I will preface with, these are my beliefs. They are my facts, and may not be yours, and that is okay. 

I read a quote today by Yusuf, who you probably more likely know as, Cat Stevens. He said, “I don’t think that God sent us prophets and books of light to fight each other over them. They actually tell us how to live together.” As I sit drinking my tea, I am pondering those words. They fuel me inside. Yusuf “Cat Stevens” and I share the same truth.

Growing up, an Irish Catholic from Boston, I will share from my personal experience. 

I remember…

My stepmother, Cheryl (who could not receive communion because she divorced and remarried – that’s not the point here, but I could go on about this), took us kids to church every Sunday. Wiggling in our seats, we sat by her side in the front right pew. She handed us quarters at collection time to put in the collection box. Cheryl put bills in that same donation box, and I always wondered how many bills were wadded together. I think for us kids, the quarters were a teaching, a symbol for a lesson we were to learn. We were supposed to contribute to helping the poor and needy. It is right, and it is what you do.

I remember…

My favorite part of mass. Okay, maybe second favorite. I am sure my first favorite was hearing the priest utter the words, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” These words were my signal that mass was over, and as a kid, that was fantastic. That leads us to my second favorite part. Before receiving Holy Communion, the priest invited everyone to exchange a sign of peace, and say to each other, “Peace be with you.” I loved turning to the people behind us and shaking hands and reaching across aisles, again, shaking hands, everyone looking each other in the eye, and saying, “Peace be with you.” I loved that. That always felt right to me.

I remember…

Everyone hustled out of church when it ended. We piled in our cars, and most people couldn’t get out of that parking lot quickly enough. I don’t know if this was a Boston thing, or what, but people would cut you off, not let you out, and honk their horns. Remember folks, this is just after looking each other in the eye, shaking hands, telling each other, “Peace be with you,” and immediately after the priest told us all to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” This never felt right to me. 

Was church just checking boxes, going through motions? I don’t know. I was a kid. But as I ponder it as an adult, all the experiences combined lead to my current belief system. 

This all leads me back to Yusuf “Cat Stevens” quote, “I don’t think that God sent us prophets and books of light to fight each other over them. They actually tell us how to live together.” 

We each get to make choices each day. We can CHOOSE to show up in peace, or not. 

We can “deposit coins” in the donation box by sharing a meal with a homeless person or providing them clothing and warmth of blankets in the winter. Cripe, we can look them in the eye and speak to their humanness and just say, “hello” or “peace be with you.” 

We can look EVERYONE (Black, white, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, man, woman, transgender, nonbinary, gay, straight, schooled, ignorant, wealthy, poor…) in the eye and say, “hello.” Regardless of town, city, country, or continent, we are one, for those are only invisible boundary lines in the sand. We can say to EVERYONE, “Peace be with you,” and from the heart mean it. 

I do not understand any “religious” person who embraces hatred and bigotry, full stop. I pray day and night that WE will ALL be light, and love, and peace. Let us find that peace, patience, kindness, and compassion with one another (and quickly, I might add).

Peace be with YOU!