Choosing faith

…or does it choose you?

My personal history in the Christian faith has roots that extend deep into a Celtic past, yet also forward into an ecumenical context, even an interfaith realization…epiphany.

My Irish family are descended from the Celtic pagan kingdom of Dalriada, 4th to 8th century. From there, the Watters of County Antrim were both Catholic Celtic via St. Patrick, yet also Irish Presbyterian given to some of the Scots who were part of the old family.

When the Watters emigrated to Philadelphia by ship from Cork, they came as both Presbyterian and Catholic…ever the United Irishmen ☘️ are we, and that pattern continued. Now that could have easily been the end of the story as far as faith traditions go, but my maternal side had other ideas.

My mother’s mother descended through the family of Job! That long line became German Jews who later converted to Christianity and also became Russian citizens when they began farming the Volga River after an invitation by Catherine the Great, empress of Russia.

So then the matriarchal faith became Lutheran…close to Catholic, yet also close to Presbyterianism. My “church” life then throughout childhood was decidedly Lutheran, including confirmation, Eagle Scout and Pro Deo et Patria awards.

Then came a time of walking away from organized, institutional religion. I suppose still believing in (God) but questioning much of the dogma and doctrine of Christianity while also investigating other religions of the world. My 20’s and 30’s were I suppose a fairly typical hedonistic period…I suspect none of this surprises God.

Later when my wife and I decided to start a family we both felt that our children deserved to be exposed to our collective family faith (Christianity). And that parental decision began an unexpected journey of our own together. We eventually settled into a Presbyterian congregation which became family, and still is in some ways (another long story there). We raised all of our children in that church, the oldest and his family are still members there.

But as Patti and I grew in our faith we were “called” to new experiences, still Christian but different denominations or none at all. We also experienced an awakening to the Truth of Divine LOVE (God), Their Universal Christ, and an appreciation of many different faith traditions. We still practice a Christian path while continuing to “see” that “Christ plays in ten thousand places.”

Great Mystery, Divine LOVE, Relationship at the Center of the Universe, Lover of every human soul…and yes there is so much more I could say (and tell), but those names shall suffice for this entry.

}:- a.m. anonemoose monk

Patrick Perching Eagle Watters—Celtic Lakota Franciscan Buddhist Sufi child of Divine LOVE

Mitakuyé oyàsin, hozho naashadoo, beannacht. 🙏🏽