Pilgrim finds relationship with God doesn’t depend on church affiliation

As year’s end approaches, it brings with it the end of my column. I never thought that eventually I would have shared my personal spiritual pilgrimage, as well as my soul, with Vindicator readers for nearly five years and close to 20 columns.

When I first met Linda Linonis, religion writer at The Vindicator, we sat down on a bench in the entrance to the newspaper’s production building. I then pitched my idea: Would The Vindicator be willing to publish a religious column that represents and speaks to doubters, questioners and skeptics? My goal was to let those struggling with their faith know that they weren’t alone and that I, along with many others, had similar thoughts and feelings.

Linda said let’s give it a try, and a few weeks later, I submitted my first column. Responses grew beyond my expectations. Not all feedback was positive of course – one anonymous letter-writer accused me of “leading people to damnation” while another offered to “pray for my sorry soul.” These faithful were sincere in their attempts to bring me “back into the fold,” insisting that if I would only pray more all would be well.

But a relationship with the divine doesn’t necessarily depend on any church’s practice of Christianity. And while I did appreciate their efforts, my lifelong study and personal experience prevents me from a return to the traditional flock.

On a positive note, it was extremely gratifying to hear from fellow pilgrims, my target audience, who were glad to know that I understood their doubts and misgivings.

They’re not defiant or angry at God. It’s just that Christianity, as it’s currently practiced, simply no longer works for them. They are searching for some sense of the divine (however one chooses to define it) but know they will never find it within the walls of a church.

After all, dogma and doctrine are anathema to seekers. Like them, I was no longer able to accept church teachings. But rather than give up on faith and cease walking, I decided to amble down other, less traveled paths in search of an honest spirituality. My hope is that others do likewise.

Finally, I also heard from those who have delved much deeper into, through and beyond the Christian faith. They express and live a spirituality far richer than what’s delivered from most pulpits on Sundays.

These special, deeply spiritual few have tapped into the magic and live the mystery that nourishes not only the Christian faith but all religions. I want to thank every single one of you, from the fundamentalists to the mystics, who reached out to share their perspective.

I want to thank Linda Linonis and The Vindicator for giving me an opportunity to bring a voice (and an ear) to those who question, challenge or are disillusioned by their faith. The weekly religious section contained insightful information on the world’s great religions – something needed in today’s world.

Linda’s ability to tell a story, showcased in her numerous feature articles, helped educate and entertain her followers for years. Linda will retire at the end of this month, and no doubt her faithful readers will miss her editing skills and writing talent. I know I will.

As for me, well, my spiritual pilgrimage will never end. I’ll always have doubts and questions and will continue to find my search for divine truth both frustrating and fascinating. Yet I am at peace with uncertainty. In fact, as a dear friend wisely said to me, “the less we know about God, the more we know God.”

In the future, perhaps I’ll drop an update on my pilgrimage, but for now, I’ll pass along the hopeful greeting endlessly exchanged by those traveling Spain’s El Camino de Santiago – “Buen camino peregrino” – “Have a good walk, pilgrim.” If you would like to contact me, I can be reached at tbresko@aol.com. I would enjoy hearing from you.

Tom Bresko, retired from Mill Creek MetroParks, is a Christian on a spiritual pilgrimage.