I was trying to remember a name. I just couldn’t produce it. The thing is I knew the face, the nickname, the particulars of associations and mutual friends. Then it dawned on me, I don’t need to know all the names – first, middle, last. All I need to know is how we are connected. The stronger the connection, the easier it will be to recall that person, even if there is no specific name to roll off my tongue.
I think this is true with God. I don’t have to know His name (though He told Moses that it was “I Am”). Seems that every religion, every faith, and every believer has a set of names for the Creator. Some are actual names, others are honorifics, and still others are descriptors. We spend a lifetime trying to figure it all out. We yearn for and at the same time dread a relationship with God. Although there are many who believe that there is only one way to get to God or enter heaven, I think there are many ways. Whether you embrace Christianity or perhaps Islam, or maybe Buddhism, all ways lead to God. Despite the multitude of names, despite our failures, and perhaps because of our flaws we all search and just maybe we will find what we are looking for. And we will remember that name!
The ways are many
We do nothing in this life
Ask me his name now
A Different Perspective 
I’m glad your faith gives you such strength and comfort, Muri.
❤
David
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Yes, I do take comfort in my faith. But I don’t think everyone finds the Divine in the same way. I’m not so sure it would be good if we did….
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an anglican vicar who thought of himself as scholarly once agreed with me when I quoted ‘the only g-d worth talking about can’t be talked about’, only then to carry on regardless. I can hear a limerick coming but don’t have the skill 🙂
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If the muse tickles you, rhyme away!
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already have – tickled me quite a bit as it turned out 😀
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🙂
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I right with you with what I call a mult-ladder approach. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with honesty. After all, we know many will disagree with us.
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Hi Frank, I really believe there are many ways to discover God (or whatever name is your favorite). When discussing religion there are more similarities than differences.
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I know there are many who would disagree. I would have been one of them a couple of decades ago. I’ve finally come to this: God IS. I will let HIM prove himself to each person, and work on my own weaknesses rather than someone else’s.
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Amen! I was taught that judging others was not my job. I was to be Christ to others and see Christ in everyone. Doing that eliminates a lot of negativity. I have my hands full just trying to find my own way….
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Nice analogy! Connection matters more than names. There are many names for each connection. 🤔
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Absolutely. Many paths, many names.
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Also, I have always accepted everyone as on individual paths to the same place so I never understand the missionaries, converters and whatnot. It’s one of the few things my Christian bestie and I disagree on. My family and I have never been very religious so our disagreement is a result of upbringing. To me, it seems pretentious to believe one path is better than another when we are all born clearly different individuals.
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Respect is important. Too often in the past religion was forced on people – and we all know how well that worked…
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Evidently, the mystery that others label as God remains more mysterious to me than to most others. I’m puzzled by those who are so certain of the mandates of that force that they feel compelled to act as henchmen. I much prefer the “love” and “forgive” parts.
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And you have hit on the core of the problem. Those who would force their views on others need to step back and respect other faiths and faith journeys. All roads lead to the same place. I’ve taken a few detours and explored other routes and I’m happy with my path.
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I agree; I’ve long thought that at a time when there was not world-wide communication that God appeared to many people differently, and that there is truth in all religions and faiths. It’s like ants trying to understand people; us trying to understand God. We just don’t have the capability of understanding what he/she is.
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Amen! There are so many different religions but it seems they all are headed to the same destination.
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Val, I am good at remembering names. What does it say about me! 🤔😀
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It means you are good at remembering names! I wish I was better with names… but I do remember faces which causes me moments of panic!
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This is a beautiful post. I agree with you and so many here. There are different paths and perhaps different names/descriptors/ titles to what in reality leads to the same “place” or “power”. I’m in the category of uncommitted in a sense but I recall a conversation with a Xanga friend some years ago when I said I believe whatever a person’s truth that is indeed their truth. In a sense I think the mysteries are that and we must each seek our own truth in the way which feels at home in our own soul. I admit I have problems with structure for myself but have respect for those who live within such structure with love and compassion….
Forgive my meandering… I’m low on sleep. Peace& love
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& thank you, for being who you are, following your faith choice, and allowing all of us, ours. ❤
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You are welcome. Your art lets me see the beauty in your journey and I love where you are heading. Peace Kim.
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Thank you, kind one. Thank you.
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❤ ❤
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A Christian as the name suggests is a disciple of Jesus, crucified and resurrected. The teaching of Jesus is to love your neighbour. That is why while affirming his faith a Christian must love everyone regardless of the way of belief in which this person was brought up.
Love ❤
Michel
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That is the key. Love. God is love. Forcing a religion on someone is the opposite of love. They will know we are Christians by our love….
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Tue, Val.
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Indeed Michel ❤
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Evelyn that is exactly how it is – we are all on our own paths but hopefully we will all find peace and love in the universe. Hugs and much peace!!
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Peace& hugs 💜
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❤
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❤️
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God is…love! He IS! I don’t know where I’d be without my faith. And I’m to love others, no judgement,…I’m so happy to be on this journey with all of you. 💕
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Val I am really interested in this post. I believe there are many paths to God, although not everyone would use the word “god.” I have a lovely story of my beautiful Pakistani doctor when I had cancer. I will tell it if you want to know. She prayed for me right through my cancer, became like a mother to me when I did not have one, and when I went into remission, she, a Muslim, and I a Christian, knelt down, held hands and praised God together. What could be better than that?
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That is the essence of what the creator is all about! There are so many way that are similar and so few that are differences… I have to agree Lorraine – there is nothing better than that kind of love and compassion!!!
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I remember her looking at all my theology books in my bedroom, and asking if I minded if she prayed for me. She knew we were of different faiths, but I told her of course she could pray for me. It made me very happy. It is love that matters as love comes from God and God IS love. So it doesn’t matter what name we call Him by. He is just LOVE. She said to me, “it is the same God – we just call Him by different names.” I so agreed with her. I remember this with great happiness Val. 💕
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“The stronger the connection, the easier it will be to recall that person, even if there is no specific name to roll off my tongue.”…this is so true Val…and thank you for reminding us..
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I am with you on the Path to God being varied. I have had occasional trouble remembering names. It’s always been temporary.
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Thanks Gary! I’m awful at putting names with faces – names can elude me but I’m usually able to remember a face. Though when I went to a class reunion it was very difficult – 40 years changes a lot of faces!!
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God got pretty annoyed at Moses for insisting on a name. But Moses knew his people and that some nameless self-combusting entity had to be called something for them to have any interest in it. I think that’s one of the saddest stories in the Bible because that which IS is truly beyond a label. But we humans always want a name and, if possible, a price… 😦
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We have a long history of naming things. Adam started it – naming everything under the sun. Even Eve. So it doesn’t surprise me that humans wanted and needed a name for God. There were already lots of gods all with names. It IS very sad. The idea is that if you name something you have power over it and can manipulate the named to your will.
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