LIFE WITH FAITH

“Faith is not necessary when you know how things are going to work out, - that's knowledge. It's in the time of unknowing, that having faith is what sees you through to the other side. Faith is what gives you strength. Faith is that light in your heart that keeps on shining even when it's all darkness outside. Now is the time to keep that faith alive!”

This description of Faith by an author whose name I do not recall, has always been the standard by which I define its true meaning. It refers more specifically to faith possessed by an individual, his confidence in a person, or a plan or an idea and an unshakable trust that the outcome will always be correct.

“Faith” can also refer to religion, as a belief in certain ideas, or conditions or in a higher super-natural power that ultimately controls human thought or destiny. In this context, it is often used to highlight the fundamental difference between the various religions and as a result has been blamed for the cause and reason for the perpetuation of their separate identities. In contrast the common denominators among all the religions such as love, respect, understanding, tolerance and good works are generally similar and interchangeable. However unfortunately, these are deliberately understated in favor of contrasting dogmas in faith in order to maintain and propagate their differences and ensure continued disagreements. One should therefore not be surprised at the ongoing inter-religious strife and disharmony that exists in the world.

As I see it, the presence of true faith should play an integral role in all aspects of our entire lives. Not just on our religious beliefs, but on everything we do and on everyone we encounter. When faith operates there should be a comprehensive trusting that the right way will always appear, and that there will be a shield of security that protects you from fears of human failing, loss or disappointment. It should provide a feeling of calmness and confidence that comes from trusting entirely to the truth, and embracing and committing to the truth in all things. The truth itself, will become your faith.

St. Augustine of Hippo, the great philosopher and theologian, who lived in the 4th century, AD, was one of the most important figures in the development of Western Christianity and one of the earliest to consider and investigate the importance of Faith in life. Born of a Pagan father and a Christian mother he spent his early years as a staunch pagan following the teachings of Manes and Plato until his “conversion” to Catholicism in 386 AD. From then on he became a prolific writer and teacher on all aspects of religion. His most famous publication was the Enchridion, a handbook on Christian theology in which he wrote extensively on Faith and its importance to Christian Life, concluding by recording a simple but very powerful observation:

“Faith is to believe what you do not see.
The reward of this faith is to see what you believe”.

Throughout the ages, Faith has been the constant companion of all the great leaders, teachers, thinkers, authors, religious and successful people who have excelled in their chosen fields. Ask anyone of them the reason for their success, and the universal response will invariably be “faith”. A cursory look at their quotations on the subject will confirm, beyond any question, the dominating role played by faith in every successful individuals. In fact, I am convinced that in the great majority of instances, Faith is the singular driving force to success.

But faith is within the reach of anyone of us. Whether we are able to call upon it depends on many diverse factors such as experience, example, personality, environment and exposure. We are all able to readily recognize many examples in our own lives or in the lives of others around us where the presence of faith was the over-riding phenomenon. In my own practice over many years, I have never failed to marvel at the rapidity of recovery and the significant improvement directly related to the depth of faith. In fact, several large scale studies have confirmed the validity of this observation in respect to such varying conditions as post surgical recovery, post-stroke, drug and alcohol abuse and depression.

In the end I can do no better than to offer a quotation from the great African-American educator and civil-rights leader, founder of the Bethune-Cookman University and advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Mary Jane McLeod Bethune:

"Without faith, nothing is possible.
With faith, nothing is impossible".

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Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
……..Hebrews11:1

Be faithful in small things because,
It is in them that your strength lies.
……..Mother Teresa

Faith is a passionate intuition.
..…..William Wordsworth

Faith is taking the first step;
even when you don't see the whole staircase.
….Martin Luther King

Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active.
……..Edith Hamilton

I do not pray for success; I ask for faithfulness.
…..Mother Teresa

Faith is believing;
-Even when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.
……Voltaire

A Faith that cannot survive a collision with the truth,
is not worth many regrets.
……Arthur C. Clarke

Faith makes things possible; -Not easy.
….Author Unknown

It’s lack of Faith that makes you afraid of meeting challenges.
…..Muhammed Ali

Duty cannot exist without Faith.
…..Benjamin Disraeli

Your Faith is what you believe;
-Not what you know.
……Mark Twain