...That is the question... I just know I'm going to catch hell for this one, so here it goes!
I truly believe that no matter what higher power you believe in or what you call it, you do not need to go to a church to feel closer to it. If a higher power is responsible for creating this earth and all things on it, then why do we need to spend time in a specific building performing ritualistic practices just to be heard by this higher power?
Now before you try to burn me at the stake, let me clarify... I also believe that church is a valid choice for worship. If you like being a part of a community and surrounded by like-minded peers then the church is a great option for you! This post is not for or about you. But, if you prefer to speak to your higher power on a one-on-one level and in private then this post is for you.
Did you know that there is a form of meditation that is much like prayer? It is called "Meditative Prayer" and this meditation can be practiced anywhere. In bed when you wake up or before you go to sleep, in your car on your lunch break (not while you are driving), in the park, or at the beach. If this is something you are interested in then here are the basics, however, this meditation or any other meditation can be tweaked and customized to suit your needs because your meditation is for and about you!
Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted, relax and quiet your mind with a few deep breaths. Put yourself in a reverent state of mind with a prayer of your choosing, such as "Our Father". With faithful love for your deity, contemplate your deity dwelling within you with faithful love for you. Once you feel a complete sense of love, meditate on a single, simple word, such as "strength" or "love" repetitively until you feel its meaning resonating within you. When you are ready to close the meditation, repeat the same prayer you began with.
This form of prayer is really powerful for me because I am in my own space, in my own time, and can really focus on what love and strength or whatever I am praying for feels like to me deep down. It's such a wonderful feeling that resonates within me. I am never able to fully reach the same level while I'm in a church, reciting the prayers I'm told to, when I'm told to recite them, with no opportunity to contemplate their meaning.
♥ Love + Light ♦
Danica Simone