In my last article I wrote about how I view the stories in the Bible as parables and do not take them literally. I have set myself on a journey joining hubpages to further my spiritual path.

Too often people use the passages in the Bible to control. I have had people tell me that they have been told by God to do or say such and such; thus, this gives them the right to dictate to others how to act and behave. While I cannot say what God has said to others, I do believe that He speaks to each of us in ways that are intended for us to love and not to hurt. God never means for us to use his messages to be controlling.

I teach and I know first hand daily that children learn by modeling, modeling and more modeling. They emulate much more of what I do than of what I say. Research shows that we hear and retain very little of what comes at us through audio methods; however, we retain much more of what we see and touch. That should teach each of us to live our lives in a way that others want to copy. My own daughter was going through some very difficult times adjusting to her new school. Some of the girls were being rather difficult and saying some things about her that she felt were untrue. I told her to live her life in a manner so that when others heard these things they would not believe them about her. It took some gentle nudging, but she heeded my advice. Things did not improve immediately, but one day she came home from school and shared with me that when some of the girls were saying mean things to her a couple of the other girls came to her defense and admonished the negativity by telling them directly that they were mean and that my daughter tried to be nothing but nice to everyone and that what they were doing was just plain cruel. Things slowly improved for her after that. I share this story as it may help others to realize that walking the walk is much more important than talking the talk. Would you want to follow a religion that ostracizes and condemns you? Would you want to follow a religion that accepts and forgives? I call that the Christian religion in its true form.

I am constantly confronted with the beautiful stories I learned as a child from the Bible. The house upon the rock has had such a strong influence in my life. Of course we all know we need a strong foundation to build our homes. That is not what it means to me. I know that I must continue speaking to my children even when I feel that they are not listening to me. I must, more importantly, continue showing love to them even when they lash out at me. This demonstrates unconditional love it its truest form. I continue to be thankful and amazed when one of my children says or does something wonderful and relates it back to such examples.

I love the parable with the mustard seed moving rocks. It is such a tiny seed, almost invisible. Yet it can grow and move rocks once it is in its mature stage. Aren't we all always going through infancy and adolescence in many ways. I know that I am still growing and learning every day. I know when I teach that I must plant the mustard seed and then be patient. Perhaps I won't even be witness to the strength of that seed, but I do know of its existence and of its power.

Be on the journey with me. Do any of you have any other connections to the stories in the Bible that you wish to share?