While having lunch at work the other day, a colleague asked me if I ever pray… and if I know how to pray. The manner she asked the question, irked me but answered her respectably nonetheless. For me, religion and faith are two different things that often times are intertwined when being used.
Yes, I know how to pray. I grew up in the Philippines; the only catholic country in southeast Asia which about 80% of its population practice Catholicism. Religion has been instilled in me at early age- my mother was a devout Roman Catholic and my father is a Protestant. I have Religion as a subject matter and as part of my school curriculum both during grade school and high school. I recited million times the rosary, and many other prayers of the saints. I tended the mass at churches in every part of the world I have lived. I guess that validates that I know how to pray.
Statue of Father Pedro Camps at Cathedral Basilica of Saint Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida
Religion is not something I sit down and debate with. If you look at history, religion had caused many wars and misunderstandings to mankind and still not settled to this day. So, I stay away from arguing with people whose sole purpose is to argue- and put religion on the table to be the subject matter. I do not try and throw my beliefs at others. I never believe that one religious sect is better than the other. I have tremendous respect for all faiths and beliefs, but have a deep concern that religion and faith are currently along way apart from each other.
As I grow older (and I’d like to think wiser) my faith has evolved. It is very private to me, it plays an important role in my life. It has gone deeper. While I am thankful that religion has played a significant part molding my spirituality, I stayed out of its superficiality and repetitious practices that overtime become meaningless.
Life has tested me in so many ways. I have been in the lowest of my life, and from time to time I experience darkness- or myself drowning in troubled waters. But it is my belief to something omnipresent that keeps me out of danger. It is when I keep the faith that better things happen and make sense. I have to have it- we all have to have it.