Do you practice religion?
Do you practice religion?
It reminds me of the questions my children used to ask when they were little.
Why do we pray, mama?
Why do we fast?
Why are we allowed to this and not allowed to do that?
And their list of whys multiplied over the years.
When children are young, it’s better to give answers that satisfy their curiosity, not their spirituality.
Their innocent hearts believe in God innately.
They need no big, fancy words or explanations at such young age.
So… my answers were usually simple, and straight to the point.
For example, for the first question I would say; We pray because God wants us to pray, to stay close to Him, always.
Over the years, as we grow older, we not only understand but also feel the strong connection between religion and practice.
For me, religion without practice is….
a path without direction,
a candle without light,
and a heart without blood.
Sometimes we get lost, confused, and even a little prodigal.
Yes… no one is perfect.
But without following directions,
without lightening the candle,
and without purifying the blood,
life becomes a maze, a snakes -and-ladders game.
And this child’s innate belief in The Creator will easily fade as we grow up.
Only practice can restore faith.
It gives us the nudge that keeps us on track.
And it can soften the heart and purify the soul.
Religion cannot be without faith,
and faith cannot live without practice.
With practiced religious thoughts,
Nahla
Pure and Simple 