Religion

Hubby Dear teases me about my television viewing. He finds my choices both amusing and confusing. In a way, so do I. Upon reflection, however, there does seem to be a method to all my madness. There are reasons for my options.

 I have always had a problem with the concept — more importantly, the reality — of surrendering. It evoked feelings of inadequacy, loss of control, enslavement and acquiescence to the power of another person or situation. I did not like it — not one bit! Searching the dictionary or thesaurus only added to the upset. Words like yield, concede, capitulate, crumble, cave-in, throw in the towel and forfeit were offered as definitions. None of them eased my sense that abandonment would be wrenching.

 Denominations that use the Revised Common Lectionary and follow the church’s liturgical year will have celebrated the Feast of Pentecost as part of the conclusion of the Easter season. Charismatic communities embrace the power of the Holy Spirit throughout the year. Expressed in religious terms or not, believers and unbelievers alike have an affinity for the spiritual.

 I was happily, well not so happily, attacking my morning exercise on the treadmill with the radio at high volume to distract me from the challenging chore when I heard the announcement. “NPR continues a series of conversations about the Race Card Project where thousands of people have submitted their thoughts on race and cultural identity in six words.” My attention was immediately caught.