They say never talk about religion… but here goes.
This is my coming-out piece.
I believe in Jesus—not just as a historical figure, but as a living metaphor for the divine power of imagination, creativity, and sacrifice.
For most of my life, I rejected religion outright. Growing up in conservative Catholic Ireland, I was surrounded by dogma, guilt, and rituals that felt hollow. I became convinced that religion was the root of much of the world’s suffering.
In my twenties, I resonated with humanist thinkers, who painted a picture of a cold, indifferent universe and dismissed spirituality as wishful thinking.
Yet… deep down, something tugged at me.
A desire to serve, to create, to make the world better.
That longing led me to permaculture, to Guatemala, and to building a life dedicated to regeneration, community, and harmony with nature.
But my spiritual journey began in earnest with meditation and breathwork. Slowly, I began to sense another layer of reality—the invisible layer.
Then came the turning point: I picked up a Bible and stumbled upon the story of Abram, Father of Nations.
It felt like a mirror. Abram was called to leave his familiar world, to step into the unknown, to trust in something unseen.
The more I read, the more I realized: these ancient stories are not dusty relics—they are psychological maps.
Three Stories That Changed Everything
1. Cain and Abel: The Battle Within Us All
Cain and Abel aren’t just historical brothers—they represent two forces within every one of us.
- Abel: The devoted, nurturing part of us that creates, tends, and serves with humility.
- Cain: The resentful, bitter part of us that refuses to accept responsibility, grows envious, and destroys.
These forces aren’t external—they live within us.
The real question is: Which one will you feed?
And at the heart of this story lies sacrifice.
Not suffering, but the act of giving up what is expedient for what is meaningful—trading immediate pleasure for long-term purpose.
Every time we make a meaningful sacrifice, we move closer to the divine spark within us.
2. Noah and the Flood: Chaos is Always on the Horizon
There’s always a flood on the way.
- In Noah’s time, it was literal rising waters.
- Today, it’s climate change, ecological collapse, and societal breakdown.
But Noah walked with God.
This doesn’t mean blind obedience to doctrine—it means staying connected to that still, small voice within.
When chaos comes, walking with God means:
- Acting with integrity.
- Bringing order to the small corner of the world you can influence.
- Creating a refuge—an “ark”—for life, beauty, and goodness.
We can’t stop the flood. But we can prepare for it. We can become agents of healing and resilience.
3. "I Am": The Eternal Truth
Throughout the Bible, Jesus repeats the words:
- "I am the light."
- "I am the way."
- "I am the truth."
These aren’t just religious slogans—they’re profound reminders.
The unchanging sense of "I Am" lives within every human being.
Your body changes. Your beliefs change. Your name, your relationships, your circumstances—they all shift.
But that core sense of self—the I Am—remains.
Close your eyes. Feel it. That stillness, that awareness—that’s the divine spark.
This realization changed my meditation practice. It became less about emptying my mind and more about connecting to creation itself.
When you sit in stillness and remember "I Am," you align with something eternal.
You remember that:
- Your deepest desires are not random.
- Your dreams are not selfish.
- You are woven into a divine plan far bigger than yourself.
🌍 The Ecological Crisis is a Spiritual Crisis
After years of studying permaculture, ecology, and sustainability, one truth became clear to me:
The ecological crisis is not just an environmental problem—it’s a spiritual and psychological one.
We don’t destroy the planet because we lack technology or knowledge.
We destroy it because we lack meaning.
When we don’t have a belief system that connects us to something higher, something inevitable happens:
- Politics becomes religion.
- Consumerism becomes salvation.
- Selfish pleasure becomes the highest good.
And yet, none of these things fulfill us.
If you strip away every belief system, something else will fill the void.
That’s why the debates raging in society today aren’t political—they’re religious arguments disguised as political ones.
The solution isn’t just in better farming practices or cleaner energy—it’s in changing the stories we tell ourselves.
If you’re made in God’s image—act like it.
Create. Build. Nurture. Sacrifice. Love.
This holiday season, my prayer is simple:
- That you tap into your creativity and imagination—the divine tools you’ve been gifted.
- That you walk boldly towards your heart’s deepest calling—without fear or resentment.
- That you build something beautiful, meaningful, and lasting.
Everything you need is already within you.
But you must choose to act.
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Let’s walk this journey together.
With gratitude and love,
Neal
