I want to believe but I just don't.

[stottiecake]

I wonder a lot.

what would following a religion bring to your life that you currently feel is missing

Hmm tricky. This will probably come out all clunky but I suppose i'm missing some magic, some mystery, feeling cared for - I care for my family and my mum although she lives independently. Would be nice to feel looked after - loved (i am married btw!) I'm looking I suppose for a way of understanding how to feel loved and cared for but doing it for myself. I guess that could be where meditation and yoga comes in (altho a bit shy about joining a group)

Don't be shy about joining a group. With yoga you're so focussed on holding the posture that you don't pay any attention to what everyone else is doing, and when you meditate you have your eyes shut! Honestly, i suffer with anxiety and hate group situations, but have yet to find a yoga class i felt uncomfortable in (actually there was one, but that is one in over 20 years).

Back to patterns in nature, you may like these starling murmuration pics here. Not sure they are all entirely genuine, but they are still amazing.

Thanks for posting those pictures - incredible! Would love to see that in real life - an awesome spectacle!

I am reasurred about joining a yoga class - I am also a very anxious person so joining a group of strangers to do something i've never done before is extremely daunting! I am supposed to be starting a course at college in september - I am enrolled, I have arranged the loan but I am currently feeling like not doing it - it feels too scary. I don't know.

I am away with my boys in a caravan in the countryside at the moment in a stunning part of the country. The sky is huge and the views are amazing. It is easy to feel big and very small all at once!

I did "try to believe" once.

I was going through the darkest of times in my life, horrific things had happened and I had not an ounce of strength left in me.

My sister- who is a pastor sat and prayed with me - we "prayed" togther- she laid her hands upon me and we beseeched god to help me- I was in such a dark place I was ready to try anything.

And do you know waht happened? Nothing, zilch, no flash, no comfort, just the same as it was before, my atheist views left unchanged.

My life did slowly get better, but through my own efforts and time, nothing to do with god or jesus, I still know it's all just a myth, a crutch for those that are willing to reject rationality.

And I am pretty glad I didn't catch the meme. Ther may have been no cure.

ohegg- I agree about the yoga class- I have been to many different ones over the years and they have all been really calm and accepting.

It makes no difference if you are on your own or know everyone in the room, when the work starts you work as a group and an individual, usually in silence apart from the teacher anyway.

Perhaps you need to invite God and Jesus into your life through prayer? Try to find a beautiful, quiet place to pray in. Don't give up on the first attempt. I believe that we are sent signs that God and Jesus are with us, we just need to listen.