Finding my faith - Erica

Growing up in the open-minded, non-creedal group that is the Unitarian Congregation of Saskatoon, I was open to discover my own religious identity. The Religious Education program began my introduction into every religion and faith out there. We would travel to every house of worship there was in the city and I continued in this vein when I left the religious education program.

On a tour organized by the Saskatoon Multi-faith group of the Muslim Community Center we were allowed to sit in the prayer room while a few men prayed their evening prayers. As I watched, I was overcome with amazement at their dedication to enter into such a deep, devoted frame of mind five times a day. I became aware of the comfort and confidence they must have in their beliefs in order to be that dedicated. I had a twinge of jealousy that I didn’t have that kind of belief that I could lean on for support and comfort. At the same time I was very aware of my own confidence that there is no higher being, at least not in any way that is described in organized religions. I wondered if I could ever feel the comfort in spiritual dedication that these Muslim men appeared to have if I didn’t believe in God.

I began to delve deep into myself to figure out what I draw strength from and began to pay close attention to when I feel that flutter of happiness within myself. I began to notice that this feeling of satisfaction, of comfort and of some kind of completeness occurred when I saw other people satisfied and genuinely happy in life. At the same time I would feel the opposite kind of feelings when I saw someone suffering.

For me, it’s as simple as that. The solution to the world’s problems is simply to be the best person you can be. For me right now, that means helping people dying of such a preventable disease as Malaria and encouraging people of all different faiths and beliefs to work together and see the human-ness in each other. We as humans created the problems of the world and so it is equally our duty to repair them.

Erica Spracklin

Faiths Act Fellow