A Haiku - Religiosity
As with most aspects of life, individuals have individual reasons for doing what they do.
Religion is such a category, and I often think (along with an expression from the Talmud) that "The test of a man's life is not his theology, but his life."
There seem to be almost as many religions in actual practice as there are individuals practicing them, raising the question of what it means to say "He is a practicing Catholic" or "She practices her Moslem faith."
Somehow I get the suspicious feeling that, while "practice makes perfect," there are also almost as many definitions of what it means to say anyone is "practicing" their religion. (How an atheist would practice their non-religion is an even more elusive concept.)
I tend to steer away from "practicing" doctors.
All of which brings me to the subject of this Haiku, religiosity. This is what I came up with:
Humbly now, some stern.
See them come, devoutly, some
To see, be seen, proud.
Worshipping loudly,
Silently toasting themselves.
Mastering nothing.
Just as the widow put in her mite and gave more than them all, so also I think the silent doer, "churched" or not, puts more into practice than all the others merely attending the services conducted for their attendance.
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22)
The General Epistle of James is short but pithy. It can be read in a matter of a few minutes. For some Christians it is useful as a daily guide and reminder to avoid religiosity and to "walk the walk."
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© 2014 Demas W. Jasper All rights reserved.
NOTE: If you enjoy reading an occasional Haiku, I have added over 100 to HubPages, as well as other poems and limericks you might find to be thoughtful, entertaining, and sometimes humorous. Perspycacious
