The Story of Your Life, and Mine.

[Pictured: Arrival]

The season of fall seemed to start today, with the refreshing lightning and pouring rain. And as September falls upon us, I am reminded of the beautiful cycles of nature. Of course, the seasons, leaves, and trees, but also the cycles of my life.  I turn 20 tomorrow, which is significant, but today might be an even more significant anniversary. 1 year ago, I had a spiritual experience that radically changed the trajectory of my life. An abundance of meaning crashed down on me, and despite the fact I thought it would be a one time thing, I am happy to say that the waves keep crashing.

A year ago, I watched CJ The X's Arrival video. Today I rewatched for the first time, and it was good, but slightly underwhelming. The ideas that CJ The X was communicating have become so fundamental so it didn't feel new or fresh. However, I am eternally grateful, and like I said the video was good. Now that I have seen the actual Arrival movie and read the book, I definitely feel more attached to those. And the place and journey that these pieces of art have led me to is of vital importance to my life and worldview.

It has taken awhile, but I think I am comfortable calling myself a theist. I am someone who is more religious than not, someone who believes in God. Not only would I say I believe in God, but I would also say that I probably believe in Jesus. I pray almost everyday, I thank God genuinely, I look at nature and art, and I feel transcendence.

Basically every problem I have with Christianity has been diminished by the fact that most major problems seem to have their start in people, rather than in the intrinsic nature of Christianity. Don't get me wrong there are still a number of things to sort out before I call myself a Christian (problem of evil, animal suffering, old testament violence, I'm still and will never stop being affirming of LGBTQ+ people, I could go on), but I never thought I would get this far.  Not even 6 months ago did I think I'd get this far. I keep having moments where I feel an overwhelming, never-ending love and peace. These moments make me sure that there is something more, something more than what people call "objective reality".

I have a video planned about this, but I think there are 3 grand meanings to find in life. 3 things that can make life meaningful. Number 1 is ART, not even necessarily making art, but just interacting with beauty and the richness of art. Number 2 is RELIGION, which is obviously not necessary for meaning, but is absolutely helpful. I did not think I needed religion to be happy, but I feel much happier now that I have some spiritual tendencies. Number 3, and most importantly is COMMUNITY. If you don't have community, I genuinely believe you can't have religion or art. Community is such a powerful force of meaning, that if you don't have it, I don't think you will ever be whole. Religion and Art should lead you to Community. For me, they definitely have.

Here are the art pieces that have lead me to religion, specifically by having spiritual experiences with them. All during this past year:
- Time is an Illusion, by CJ The X (Starting Experience)
- Arrival
- Story of Your Life, by Ted Chiang
- The Bear, Forks
- INSIDE, by Bo Burnham
- Winter (The Wind Can Be Still), Stardew Valley OST
- Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert Pirsig
- Lila, by Robert Pirsig
- Modern Family, S11 E6 (more like an agreement than experience)
- Reckless Love, by Cory Asbury
- Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- The Incel to Trans Pipeline and Inside Mari, by ceicocat
- Morning on the Riesengebirge, by Casper David Friedrich
- Soul, Pixar
- Art as Experience, by John Dewey
- AND A LOT MORE I FORGOT