Moral Compass

Sometimes I question my life and what helps me make decisions in my life. Being brought up in church I was taught to be a moral person. But what makes an immoral person? Bad decisions or choices, we all make them periodically. I know I do. We all make bad decisions, nobody is perfect. I am not perfect, and never claimed to be. I'm a sinner, we all are. I've showed pride for my accomplishments, and pride is one of the 7 deadly sins. I recently spoke harshly to a friend about her mother, I judged a stranger for her "loose" actions. My friend doesn't know who her father is because at the time she was conceived her mom was married but had multiple partners.  I called her mother a whore and after my friend left I felt awful. I judged a stranger and only one person has the right to judge, GOD. I will ask God for forgiveness and apologize to my friend, because it was not my place to condemn or judge her mother.

Growing up in rural America most of my friends had two parents and nobody doubted their genetics. We knew without a doubt who our parents were. There was no Maury Povich moments, you know what I'm saying. "You are not the father." I guess their moral Compass doesn't have a stopping point, or perhaps it stops much later than mine does.

I think religion plays a big part in being a moral person but people who don't follow the teachings of the church aren't always immoral either. I think for the most part most people are decent regardless of religion and most follow the "Golden Rules" and 10 commandments without realizing it. I was really surprised organized religion and Christianity is not that important in Alot of countries. My grandfather was a Wesleyan minister and he was a sinner earlier in his life. After he was saved he became a minister and preached for 50+ years. Besides visiting the sick and preaching the gospel, he raised a god fearing family. My parents attended a baptist church. Three times a week. My brothers and I all attended Catholic Church, my brother J was baptized as a Catholic at birth & given the "last rites", he is still alive almost 49 years later. My brother D completed catechism classes and his children are being raised in the Catholic Church.

I think we all have a Moral Compass with different stopping points. How I choose to live and my inability to lie is a testament to my upbringing. For most of my life I've treated others decently and with respect, regardless of how they treated me. Recently my opinions have become harsher and unjustified. I need to ask forgiveness and stop being so critical.

Right now I'm angry, hurt and frightened. These emotions are justified. I pray our faith will get us through this path I never thought we would have to travel.

I will go into more detail the next entry.