One of the aspects I enjoy in traveling so much with the military is meeting new people and gaining new insights and perspectives. I enjoy meeting people of different cultures and I’m fascinated by religious beliefs. These encounters have stretched me in many ways. I try my best to still stay grounded in some core beliefs I feel are absolute while leaving myself open to be taught.
Most recently, one of my good friends here in our new location
has stated that she is an Athiest and doesn’t believe in any afterlife. This came up because she and her family have had many deaths in their immediate family and it’s brought up some interesting and very matter-of-fact conversations.

I believe everyone has their reasons for their beliefs or lack of beliefs as the case may be. But it has made me wonder for the past few days.
It’s given me a fresh view on my own faith. I’ve tried to think about my views outside of upbringing, church and religion to truly think of my faith at the core. It’s been good for me to evaluate how I feel and think without paradigms getting in the way. I think when we hear some information, it often tries to find a connection with a foundation that’s already laid on our mind. Hearing a differing sentiment can often bounce off into some distance abyss because there’s no connection within us. I don’t want to let that happen.
But I thought about it and have wondered what is the risk of
faith? Is it really that difficult to have faith in this information overloading, scientific and control based world? Is it a fear of being disappointed? Is it then that we have certain expectations that may seem unreasonable? For me, I believe in God and my faith has given me hope, guidance, strength and peace. But if I’m wrong in some way, I’m not sure I would have lost anything. I think I would have lived a good life with a sustaining faith and a spiritual compass. Maybe I’m just practical. But if God does exist and all that comes with those beliefs, isn’t the disbelief then the risk?