After skating his personal best at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Johnny Weir nodded his appreciation to a standing crowd and then crossed himself as he skated off the rink. Later in his up close and personal interview he said. “I crossed myself at the end because I called in God to help me on this, and I’m not religious at all.”
I found that surprising. Perhaps I have just taken it for granted than anyone who would make the sign of the cross in public must be giving thanks to God and therefore be a little “religious”.
I have heard more than one sermon on the differences between being “religious” and being “spiritual”. Religion is based in tradition and acts of worship while being spiritual is centered more on your personal relationship with the Lord.
So Johnny Weir may very well not be “religious” but a little “spiritual” instead. In any case he felt he needed God to help him out. Perhaps that thought, that belief, that God would be with him on the ice, gave him a boost of confidence he would not other wise have had, or why bother.
It is true that religion can often define a person incorrectly, meaning, there are people viewed as being “religious” simply because of the church they attend. A church with high visability and yet in their own heart they have no deep connection with their God. For many religion has just become a word that ties them to traditions they no longer deem viable or believe in anymore. It has simply become routine.
On the flip side, there are those who have a deep spiritual committment and relationship with God and yet they belong to a “Religious” organization, a church that is associated with a high profile name. It is that “name” that defines them and not the person they truly are.
Religion stirs up alot of inward feelings and definitions in our society today. I don’t affiliate myself with a “religion” per say but I do tell people I am a christian. Sometimes I don’t say anthing, I just try to be one and hope my actions will define who I am.
But then I ask myself, “Am I cheating God out of His Glory?” What I mean by this is that for me to act, think, and be a Christian, a person who truly loves others as God loves me, than I should want to tell the whole world about Jesus Christ and how He has made a difference in my life.
My relationship with God defines who I am and I am not ashamed. Even if I appear to be a little “religious”, I know that my faith and love for the Most High God is secure. If there is any “insecurity” than it comes from me, not wanting to offend anyone, or make someone else feel uncomfortable including myself and I sure don’t want to set myself up as an “example” when I have so many imperfections. I suppose I fear having people come to the wrong conclusions about what I stand for.
So, I guess in public, I might very well have said the same thing, I’m not religious” at all. And what a shame that would be, for religion does define me in the simplist way I can explain, Love for Christ, Love for others, is my Religion.
