The Experience

 One of the reasons that children educated in Catholic Elementary school leave the practice of going to church when they move on from school or parent control, is because the faith they have up to the time of departure was not their own.  It was the faith of the teacher or parent or authority figure they followed.  They believed in the person’s faith, but did not have one of their own.  Why? Because they never had their own personal experience of God, by whatever name you give the experience, that was profound enough to connect them to worship or practice.  They may be very good people.  Atheists can be good people too.  Faith is not about morality.  It is about relationship, and one of love, not guilt or dutiful following of rules.  My experience came in silence and stillness.  And to this day I pursue it still.