Do you still think people believe in God?

Aaron Manes, Spiritual Director as well as Creator and Host of the podcast series Reconstruction Calls, recently asked Founder and Director of Retreat House Spirituality Center Rev. Dr. Lil Smith this question.

Her answer(s) on this subject are rich, and encouraging.

Ultimately, yes. People do, but many times their images and expressions of God change somewhere along the way. When traditional church communities and culture no longer resonate, it can cause feelings of loss and sadness. Ground once firm and unshakable suddenly shifts. For some, it might even feel like the “bottom falling out.”

In other words, the outside no longer matches the inside. This can feel downright disorienting, scary and even traumatic.

Smith encourages a myriad of ways to replace a sense of fear with awe and wonder:

• Developing new God images and metaphors

• Trusting your interior, or soul is made in the image of God

• Creating a language that is intimate and meaningful when talking with and about God

• Mysticism

• Building relationships with interfaith friends and neighbors

Listen to Smith and Manes talk about the hope found in finding new ways to connect with God.

As Jesus says over and over again in the Bible, “Do not be afraid.”