Experience or Belief?

In the business of life, it's easy to become somewhat robotic about what we do. I read something that was kinda like throwing a stick into the spokes of a bike while it's coasting down a hill. In Leonard Sweet's new book, The Gospel According To Starbucks, he said,

"The basic question of life is this: is God a reality to be experienced or a belief to be remembered? "

I have experienced God in my life, around my life, and through my life! But if I am honest, sometimes I coast on past experiences, and can coast pretty far between experiences. Or, maybe just keep my experiences internalized without sharing them.

Most dangerous of all, I will find myself not sharing them or experiencing them with my children! Not intentionally, or for any reason. It's just that we often keep our spirituality to ourselves. It's us and God. But if we want our children to have a better chance at knowing God, experiencing God, and pursuing God as they grow, than we have to be intentional about living out our experiences with God in front of them.

I think I try so hard to protect my boys from so many of the emotions and experiences that I have in life because I want them to be sheltered from the pains of life for as long as possible. In doing so, I have to be careful to not let them not experience life, and more importantly, spirituality through me! The most important calling I have in life is to my family! And I must allow them into my experiences spiritually.

This statement by Sweet has reminded me that I need to first, be more intentional about my faith being experiential and not purely philosophical; and second, sharing that experiential faith with my family!