Jim Murray

7 years ago · 3 min. reading time · ~10 ·

Blogging
>
Jim blog
>
I Think About God

I Think About God


4b89ca47.jpgThe life force that we all share, this mysterious energy that powers us…this is God. The plants that grow. The thousands of different animal species… every living thing...this is God. The way our planet spins around the sun without ever coming too close or getting too far away…this is God.
And just like the Catholic Church taught me, God really is all-present.
If we could only see that.
If we could only strip away the veneer of dogma that forces the separation between us. If we could only learn to see clearly how much alike we are. If we could only learn to ignore the meaningless differences and get on with living this miracle as part of one God, which is all we really are, who knows how far that could take us.
I know this will never happen. Because let’s face it, not everybody here on earth lives in the same century.
But I think about God, and what you have just read are pretty much my main thoughts.

62fc5836.pngJim Murray is an experienced advertising and marketing professional and amateur photographer. He has run his own business (Onwords & Upwords), since 1989 after a 20 year career in Toronto as a senior creative person in major Canadian & international advertising agencies. He is a communication strategist, writer, art director, broadcast producer, mildly opinionated op/ed blogger & beBee Brand Ambassador.

Jim lives in St Catharines Ontario (AKA The Quiet Side Of The Lake)

You can follow Jim

On beBee: https://www.bebee.com/bee/jim-murray

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-murray-b8a3a4/

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jimbobmur

On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y97gxro4



""
Comments

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #19

#36
Wishing you the best Praveen Raj Gullepalli on your 'road trip'.

Lisa Gallagher

7 years ago #18

Enjoyed the "Think about God series from you Jim Murray. I love how you referred to your mom as a 'cutie.' My husband was raised a Roman Catholic too, and I thought he would have no problem attending church with me and the kids. I felt it was my duty to take them to church as a 'good mom,' at some point they protested big time and questioned God's existence. I remember asking my husband why he wouldn't go to Church with us. He told me he ate, slept and drank religion for years and couldn't stomach it in his adult life. He said, God is always with me in my heart, it's personal and I don't need to go to church to have a relationship with God. I live my life in accordance- meaning, to be a good person, not a religious person. I told my kids I gave them the tools but would never push beliefs on them. My kids realized it was up to them if they chose to go to Church or not. I wanted them to be free thinkers. I love what you wrote here, "If we could only learn to see clearly how much alike we are. If we could only learn to ignore the meaningless differences and get on with living this miracle as part of one God, which is all we really are, who knows how far that could take us." I couldn't agree more! Good convo guys! Well written, Jim.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #17

#31
Anything is possible Jesse Kaelis...there are a lot of people in the world who are pretty damn evil and yet claim to be gods.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #16

#31
Anything is possible Jesse Kaelis...there are a lot of people in the world who are pretty damn evil and yet clam to be gods.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #15

#24
Kevin Pashuk I did, and I commented. Since I am obviously more disciplined than you I manged to not have my comment turn into a post. :)

Jim Murray

7 years ago #14

#28
Phil Friedman Yes, you have seen this, Maybe linked from my WordPress site to LI. I'm in the process of bringing all my relevant posts over here. It will take a couple of years, because I like writing new stuff too. Thanks for the compliment.

Phil Friedman

7 years ago #13

Jim Murray, I think I've seen this piece of yours before, perhaps on LinkedIn. It is by far and away one of the best of yours that I've read. Indeed, it is one of the best blog posts I've ever read, replete with authentic angst, humor, whimsy, and, yes, even a kernel of wisdom. Of course, part of my reaction is that I agree with you about "that f#@king Flowers" -- as he is known to his bosses and buddies in the BCI -- being perhaps the greatest character in police fiction. Much more three-dimensional than his boss and predecessor, Lucas Davenport, in the line of novels by John Sandford. But I have to point out that you omitted an important fact about Virgil Flowers, which is that he is a minister's son, and is perpetually roasting on the spit of his own fall from grace. Who says popular literature is bereft of nuance and depth?

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #12

#25
This would also be a good comment on my comment that became a post (see below) Brian McKenzie.. and why I can believe differently than you and we can still be friends.

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #11

I tried to write a short comment Jim Murray, I really did! ... but it ended up turning into a post. Check it out at https://www.bebee.com/producer/@kevin-pashuk/i-think-about-god-too-jim-murray

Jim Murray

7 years ago #10

#1
Gerald Hecht ...I don't presume to explain disasters, because this planet is subject to a million powerful forces. There is chaos. There is harmony. And there is everything in between.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #9

#6
Thanks Kevin. I'm hoping that all our discussion will remain that way...for the duration.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #8

#2
Yeah, I agree Dean Owen. But the thing that people have to always keep in mind is that anything of this nature we write is really just our opinion. And I would never offer it as the only opinion. Because everyone should have their own.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #7

#14
Thanks Don. I'm a devout athiest myself. But as a philosophy buff, I do wonder about what, if anything controls all this.

Jim Murray

7 years ago #6

#15
Sorry David. I have no idea what that comment means. If you want to clarify I'll be happy to respond.

don kerr

7 years ago #5

Nicely done Jim Murray as a devout atheist (someday a post in that) I do not believe in any sort of higher power. I do believe in collective goodwill and notions of Karma. Even these beliefs have been sorely tested in the past five years but when I saw the outpouring of support and healthful vibrations sent in our direction when Kate got cancer I embraced the overall sense of decency that most of us possess. Regretfully there are many people who have but a fleeting relationship with decency - we have witnessed a couple of them raise their spiteful heads here on BeBee recently - but so long as most of us cling to the spirit you express in this incredibly thoughtful piece hope will remain alive. Peace to you my good friend.

Dean Owen

7 years ago #4

#5
Gerald Hecht thanks for sharing that speech. I kept thinking, wow, if only I could write like that! I must admit I have never read David Foster Wallace, but it's now on my list.

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #3

Nice discussion started btw Jim Murray. Respectful and honest.

Kevin Pashuk

7 years ago #2

Here's the ultimate test of whether people can live up to the standards of tolerance, curiosity, and respect for divergent views we say we value on beBee. While I have some viewpoints to share I don't have the time right now as I'm sitting in a Costco parking lot after church waiting for my better half. I'll come back to this when I'm at a computer.

Dean Owen

7 years ago #1

My absolute favourite buzz I have ever read of yours @Jim Murray. A few thoughts. Firstly, not all Gods are benevolent. The Greek Gods certainly were not and they never pretended to be, which is why I liked them. Here I am echoing the ideas of Stephen Fry, but if Gods were benevolent, what's up with bone cancer in children? And to quote Javier in a comment on my article https://www.bebee.com/producer/@dean-owen/in-the-company-of-nones, "Religion only exists to try to explain what science can not explain." That said, we respect everyones right to believe. We are not heathens. Agnostic or atheist, most of us have struggled with the idea of God for much of our lives, wanting to believe. Like your conclusion, it is not a conclusion we come across likely. We just ask that we not be judged in much the same way as we do not judge religious people. Great article! Loved every word.

Articles from Jim Murray

View blog
7 months ago · 8 min. reading time

This is the second column in our recently reformed collaboration. · PHIL: · Okay, Jim, so the other ...

1 year ago · 2 min. reading time

Whenever I write anything about America I have to take into account that it is actually two countrie ...

7 months ago · 3 min. reading time

If you fancy yourself a writer and cruise around on social media for any length of time, you will in ...

Related professionals

You may be interested in these jobs

  • Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope

    Training Manager

    Found in: Talent CA C2 - 6 days ago


    Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope Langley, Canada Full time

    The Training Manager is responsible for identifying and assessing training needs, creating tailored training plans, and implementing various training methods to enhance employees' skills and performance. This role collaborates very closely with the plant manufacturing engineer an ...

  • 2060712 ALBERTA INC

    light duty cleaner

    Found in: Talent CA 2 C2 - 5 days ago


    2060712 ALBERTA INC Edmonton, Canada

    Education: No degree, certificate or diploma · Experience: Will train · Work setting · Various locations · Tasks · Sweep, mop, wash and polish floors · Dust furniture · Vacuum carpeting, area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture · Handle and report lost and found items · Pic ...

  • Orange Preowned Motors Inc.

    automotive electrical mechanic

    Found in: Talent CA 2 C2 - 6 days ago


    Orange Preowned Motors Inc. Saskatoon, Canada

    Education: Secondary (high) school graduation certificate · Experience: 2 years to less than 3 years · Tasks · Wind, assemble and install various types of coils · Use machining tools to fabricate or recondition parts · Test and observe electrical and mechanical conditions of equi ...