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I watch the sun rise in the sky
I ask God the question, Why?
Why is there  hatred in the world?
Why are there starving boys and girls?
Why is there addiction everywhere?
Why are there people not willing to share?
Why is there prejudice and fear?
Why are there people not willing to be near?
I  say, God please tell me why.
Then he whispers me a simple reply,
You must  experience bad to know the good
You must do right just as you know you  should

You must love me, yourself, and everyone
You must spread hope,  faith, and love until your life is done
You must do unto others as you want  them to do to you
You must persevere in all you do
All these things you  must embrace
And God assures, everything else will fall into  place

This poem helps establish my faith in God whenever I doubt him.

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The purpose of this essay is to critique a ritual that I regularly take part in, as well as outlining the place, time, participants, leader/s, community, signs and symbols. My ritual is mountain biking. I have always enjoyed riding and this has progressed to more serious trail riding over the past 3 years. I usually ride on the Gap Creek/ Mt Coot-tha trails as they are very close and provide many trails and acres of forest. While riding I feel a sense of spirituality as I am riding through amazing scenery for hours and often have time to think about why I'm here and what's my purpose. During the school term I usually ride every weekend in the afternoon, but on the holidays I sometimes go everyday. I ride by myself, with my dad, or with friends, depending on whether I need time for reflection by myself. If I'm riding alone, I'll often find someone else riding alone and ride with them for safety. This still gives me time to think. Anyone with a bike who is willing to come can ride with us. Usually the leadership role is split between those who are willing to lead and they choose which trails to ride and where to go and when to take a rest. The ritual usually starts with getting ready, by getting dressed, filling up backpacks with food and water and pumping up tyres. We then either load up the car to drive up or take the long hard ride up to the trails. This is depending on whether someone is willing to drive us up there. When we arrive we will often ride easier trails to begin with and move up to more trick-style lines later on. During this time we must be aware but we also have time to think and reflect, especially up hill. Other than making more traffic on the trails, riding has no affect on the community. We rarely delve off the trails and try not to destroy berms on tight corners. The symbols used are difficult to highlight as each ritual may be different to another person's. By allowing time to think, I am able to question my spirituality, belief in God and what stage my catholic life is currently at. I often see others in deep thought when riding as uphill they stare at nothing in particular or are not responsive to questions even though they are right beside you. Riding allows us to pause our busy lives and gives us time to reflect on what our current state is.

Entry

Preparation

Climax

Celebration

Return

Packing food and water. Grabbing gear and either riding up there or packing the car and driving up.

Helmet, gloves, pads, shoes on. Tyre/suspension check. Water filled up. Riding to the top of first trail and beginning to think about the big questions.

Riding down the first trail and enjoying life and the scenery and thinking about my spirituality and purpose in life.

Getting to the bottom of the first trail alive and chatting about the good moments.

Riding back up the next hill to do it again.

This ritual allows me to reflect on my existence and reason for what I am trying to achieve in life. It allows me time to plan for the future by reminiscing past mistakes and successes to find what works and doesn't work for me. Riding also allows me to connect with others by doing a healthy past time and allows us to not take natural beauty for granted. At the same time, we begin to see how easy it is to fall, in life and when riding, and how you must always be focused to achieve your goal.

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Galatians 3-4

The Laws of life

This parable teaches us that everyone's journey is different, and that our wrong doings are not held against us by God

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Bible Gateway passage: Galatians 3-4 - English Standard Version

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By Faith, or by Works of the Law? - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

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"And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith."

King James Version (KJV)

Discussion for Ecclesiastes 1:13

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ECCLESIASTES 1:13 KJV And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven:...

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"And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith." King James Version (KJV) Discussion for Ecclesiastes 1:13

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Stairway to heaven

a song about the value we place on useless items and how we look back on our life when we are old and reflect on our experiences.

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Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven (Music-Lyrics)

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Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Album : Led Zepplein IV (4) Year : 1971 Lyrics: There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for.

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Spirituality pulsates, dances, and flows as the source and essence of every soul. Spirituality is more than religion, relating to your personal search, to find greater meaning and purpose for your existence. Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light‐years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual.

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riding in the forests