Just sittin an watching-being lazy. Joyce Meyers on the television-I am happy. She is a role model to me. I am not a woman who practices religion giving a name to one God. But, I do put my grocery cart away. I always have. While growing up with a single mom who worked hard to maintain a semi-above poverty lifestyle-I was taught to do what was right. I was taught this without the mention of any religion at all. I did have an aunt who practiced Penticostal spirituality. But, that was all I really knew of religion. Those who know anything about the Penticosts know they are a lively group who can at times speak in tongues. They are happier standing up and shouting then sitting down in silence. They love the lord. But, the do it in their own way. They are not your mundane sort. But, they don't have to be. Anyway, my religiouse outlook is a bit like this. I, like Joyce Meyers does, put away my shopping cart. I don't put wet glasses on tables even when I am in hotels. I don't try to run in front of others to get in line first. And, I do practice human/animal/life compassion as much as possible. I lead an ethical life. But, I don't go to a traditional church. Pretty much, my religion is in the bird that sits right outside my back door. He faces the kitchen window when purched on his front door-his bird house. I find spiritual inspiration in the albino deer who suddenly began crossing a path not too far from my home. Just like God, she looked at my while grazzing and lifted my spirits one morning when I really needed them lifted. My religion is in the social responsibility that I try to display. And, it is in the compassion I see and hope to access from my own heart when I have to walk slowly - letting the gentle-elderly woman who is often outside wishing to talk to a human who might listen - catch up with me. These things are the real stuff of religion to me. Religion is in my heart and it flows outward into the world, my community, my family and even the animals of nature. It is in the deeds.

Like I wrote earlier-I do put away my shopping cart. And, I'll keep doing it too. Joyce Meyers suggested that all Christians should do this. I am grateful for women and men who are strong to teach social responsibilities. But, I am grateful too for the freedom I have to share and practice my own views. I think what I really am wishing to share in this piece of not-so-good writing is this. So many of us are the same regardless of our label. We seek to find goodness in others and ourselves too. We don't aways practice the exact same faith. We call ourselves different things and sometimes argure over different this's-or-thats. But, truthfully-we are pretty good people and pretty much the same in our core.

So even though I am not an every-week-church-goer I do still practice the acts of human compassion and rightness that I should. So, I think I am okay.

I wanted to share this little bit of writing dedicated to those who may not recognize that those of us who might walk a different path-still can be good people-just a little different-but really more the same..