YEAR OF ZEN: WINTER: DAY 77

Veil Nebula

Q: Have you ever had your image of the holy get in the way of seeing what is really present?

A: My mom raised my brother, Nick, and I in the LDS Church. In my early teens, I got super devout with it. That is already a difficult time of transition and change in life, and in hindsight I think I was just looking for something to hang onto and something that helped me feel a part of something larger than myself. Over time my faith eroded as I became more aware of what was really present. I came to see the church as a deeply flawed and very human institution with motives that didn’t align with mine, and a troubled history that I refused to simply look past or gloss over. It was a valuable experience in being honest and open to what is truly present and this perspective has served me well in life.