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Today's
Meditation:
I was
always taught when I was young that faith is a mysterious,
unknown element of our lives that depended upon us
trusting in a mysterious, unknowable deity in the exact
same ways that other people trusted in it. I've
since come to know, though, that faith is a personal
issue, and that each of us has a faith that is completely
unique, and that it's my choice completely as to where I
place that faith, be it in God, in people-- even, as some
people do, in money or my work. There are some
things that we have faith in that inevitably fail us, of
course, such as money, but it's still my choice to put my
faith where I want.
When we find the true faith that allows us to continue
doing what we're doing with complete trust that it will
serve a valuable purpose for ourselves and others, life
takes on a different light. When I allow faith to be
an important part of my life, I'm really saying
"yes" to life and to the concept of living, for
I know then that it is all worthwhile, and it deserves my
full cooperation and effort. And really, that's what
faith is: an acceptance of the idea that there is a
much better picture than we're aware of, and a willingness
to contribute to that picture, even if we never shall see
the finished product ourselves.
Because I've always had trust issues, I've often not been
able to live my faith, to have faith in my faith, if you
will. And the times in my life when I've had little
faith have been by far the darkest. But when I do
trust, when I do live by my faith, then my life brightens
because so much of the burden of everything is taken off
my back, for I know that in the bigger picture, much of
what I carry around as burden simply isn't all that
important.
Living in faith truly is a wonderful experience. And
I'm not talking about another person's idea of faith-- I'm
talking about the faith in ourselves to allow our faith to
extend in the directions that our spirits tell us are true
and loving and honorable. Faith allows us to be, and
there really is no other goal that's more important than
that.
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Questions to
consider:
Why do so many people want us to adopt their versions of
faith? If they need others to adopt theirs, then is
what they have really faith?
How much of faith is related to letting go?
How might we expand our faith by strengthening our trust,
be it in ourselves, others in our lives, or our God?
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