When I was a young mom I decided to go to graduate school. I lacked a few credits in psychology. So, I enrolled in an evening class at community college.
The first session opened with a DVD briefly introducing different approaches to psychology.
I panicked.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
For the entire class I fought to keep my composure. The next day I called my graduate adviser and put my educational plans on hold.
“I’m not going to pursue my degree,” I told him over the phone, “I just don’t have time to study.”
I lied.
I quit because I was terrified of losing my faith.
This is not such a big leap as it seems. I grew up in a neo-conservative fundamentalist Christian community. Women wore skirts. Men kept their hair cut short. No one dared dance, drink or play cards. Rock music was forbidden for fear the beat would drive person to lust and destroy his soul.
At the time I contemplated graduate school, I worshiped in a church focused on serving a loving God rather than keeping a safe distance from the unknown.
But, the fear remained.
I never went back to school. Instead, I immersed myself in raising my kids.
Now, my kids are grown.
It’s time to re-examine my faith,
explore what really holds me to God.
I want to have the confidence of the writer of the book of Romans.
He said, “… neither death nor life, …nor any powers…will be able to separate us from the love of God…”
I’m not just not there yet.
Sometimes, in the middle of the night,
I have doubts.
But, I want to believe.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts! And I really relate to what you say
Thanks, Stephanie. I appreciate your encouraging comment! Sometimes when we grow up in church we get the hand-me-downs when it comes to faith and we don’t even know it. I guess that is what my blog is all about. Getting spiritual clothes of my own. Hope you keep on reading!