Are you familiar with the concept of going through the motions? This implies that there can be the right movements without deliberate thought or heart engagement. You have heard this phrase. Have you ever done it? The rituals of your faith can be powerful tools to take you to places you could not go without them. They can also be dead and dry and devoid of life. At the end of the Old Testament I said that no one closes a door for no reason. If this tiny action is done for a purpose then how much more should you have a purpose to kindle a fire on my altar or anything else you do for me?

Do you have questions for me? I have answers for you. Do you prefer answers that are straightforward and direct? I do not promise that I will answer this way. I gave my audiences answers in the form of parables. The answer was embedded in the story for those who were paying attention. For those who were not it was just a nice story. Sometimes the answers I give you are embedded in the story of your own life. Are you paying close enough to see my answers to your questions there? He who has ears to hear, let him hear, and he who has eyes to see, let him see.

Do you believe in the idea of holy ground? Most believers would consider church property to be in this category, but it is not the property or even the structures on it that would make it holy but the people who meet there. I instructed my people to build structures for worship and I met them there, but these were temporary measures. I demonstrated my true intent when I poured out my spirit on all flesh. My Kingdom is within you and the Comforter I sent indwells you. So perhaps there is holy ground.

How do you approach the world? With fear and suspicion? Or with openness and trust? You have learned by experience that trust can be misplaced. So does that make the first alternative preferable? Statisticians recognize two types of errors, named type 1 and type 2, which could be considered false positives and false negatives. You can see the problems with trusting too much and too early. Are you equally aware of the problems of trusting too little and too late? Is your current level of openness to trust enhancing or diminishing your life?