Currents of Faith: Open and Unfolding Reflections

I'd like to ask you to do something that may be a little different than you normally do when reading an online article or email message. If you're like me, slowing down isn't much of an option given the very long list of activities and responsibilities that we are all involved in. Nonetheless, as your eyes roll over and your mind moves through the following bolded words, I want you to stop for a few moments on each one, and simply reflect, taking note of what sorts of emotions, images, and associations occur as you do so. What are your immediate impressions? What thoughts seem to flow freely and without any conscious or intentional effort on your part? Here are just a few among the hundreds one might choose: racist, right-wing, radical, conspiracy theorist, liberal, islamo-facist, anti-semite, extremist, left-wing, terrorist, ultra-conservative, cult, evil, ultra-orthodox, fundamentalist, satanic, imperialist, heretic.