The religion of my childhood and early adult years was extremely legalistic. Prohibition was a major theme - you can't do that, you can't go there, you can't touch, you can' t taste, you can't hang with "those" people. We acted as if anyone did do, go, touch, taste, and hang - they would certainly "catch" something. I did my very best to keep all the prohibitions and I still "caught" something. What I "caught" was a fear of the world, a fear of church, and fear to be myself, and a fear of God. The result of these fears is a restricted heart. Around age 35 (out of desperation) I decided to break free of the old expectations and live. Since, I've danced with Sufis, smoked the peace pipe with the Lakota, meditated with Buddhist, poured milk over statues with Hindus, held hands with Wiccans, drank with my gay friends, laughed with lesbians, backpacked with atheists - and guess what - I did "catch" something. My heart expanded, I found joy and creativity, I discovered a greater capacity to live and to love. I now live with a bigger self and a bigger God. The church and MC Hammer may have the same rap, "U can't touch this" - however this Priest says, "hell yes you can"!
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