Digging Wells

From the Legacy of the Divine, Faith (Hierophant); from the Tea Leaf Reading Cards, Snail:

          Religious leaders are shown here praying or meditating as they face a shining, gold column - a symbol of the chosen source of their devotion. I have a friend who is a retired Episcopalian priest who says, "There's an underground stream, and everyone digs a different well to it." In other words, people try to make sense of the spiritual then add a label and doctrine based on their understanding. But according to research, the "Nones" (those who are unaffiliated with any organized religion) are growing. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) seem to be driving this movement. Michael Hout, Professor of Sociology, explained this trend: "Many Millennials have parents who are Baby Boomers, and Boomers expressed to their children that it’s important to think for themselves – that they find their own moral compass. Also, they rejected the idea that a good kid is an obedient kid. That’s at odds with organizations, like churches, that have a long tradition of official teaching and obedience. As a result, they are more likely to have a 'do-it-yourself' attitude toward religion." Though I resonate with the Buddhist philosophy, I too am digging my own well. The Snail appears to tell me not to be in a rush. Though being a part of a group often makes us feel safe and not so lonesome, it makes no sense to have a faith that is blind.

In Buddhism, faith isn’t seen as a commodity we can stockpile, or something we need to have enough of, or the right kind of or we’ll be condemned. Rather, it is a process that unfolds as self-respect deepens, our insistence on knowing the truth for ourselves strengthens, and our willingness to question and wonder leads us on. ~ Sharon Salzberg