Keep the Faith

So, let's start of at the beginning, and the end, and all the parts in the middle. Why do you have Faith? Better yet, why do I have Faith?

Recently, faith came up during a chat I was having at work. During this chat, somebody (let's call him "Marsus") said that faith was for people who didn't have the inner strength to do the right things. He went on further to say that, it was your business if you believed in a religion, but, he didn't need it. He was strong enough without it.

At this moment, I felt anger brewing up inside of me. Being called weak isn't very endearing. The implication that without faith, I would be immoral was even less so.

But I didn't say anything. I just nodded and said, "That's your opinion." Then I returned to my desk, not betraying my anger.

Shouldn't I have lept to the defence? In order to keep the faith, don't you have to respond to challenges at all times?

The answer is no, at least in my opinion. In fact, in this case, Faith told me to turn away and leave it untouched. A discussion over this would not have changed anybody's mind; and, indeed, knowing my temper, and his stuborness, things could have gotten ugly very quick. Thus, the strength of my Faith carried me through, turned me away from the worse action.

However, doesn't that confirm what he's saying? Yeah, it does.

I will readily admit I'm weak, that I'm imperfect. And, it's that admission that gives me more strength then Marsus will ever know. For admitting I'm imperfect let's me seek help out from Faith, and, do things that alone, I could never do, even if I was perfect. Faith doesn't just add to your abilities, it multiplies them, gives you the strength and determination to do things, and say things, that you could never say or do otherwise. Faith is an amazing ally.

It's very easy in this world to hide behind a shield of assumed perfection. World, society, your peer group demand that you toe the line, don't do anything silly or different. That's Marsus' idea of strength. Work hard, don't do anything different, and prosper. If somebody/something comes along that hurts you, ignore it.

The road that Faith calls us to is different, more rocky, more difficult. We aren't supposed to toe the line. We're supposed to go over that line, spread the word, right the wrongs, do whatever we can to make this world a better place. When somebody comes up to us and asks us for change, we give them dollar bills. When people turn away from the pain and saddness through fear, we turn toward it, and offer assistance and relief, even though we're scared.

Yes, it's a daunting task. But keeping the faith was never meant to be easy. If it was, we wouldn't have to keep the faith in the first place.

Weak? Yes, I am. I get angry, I get cynical, I get bitter. I don't do half the things that I should do; that Faith in God and Christ calls me to do.

But I also have strength, to carry me as far as I want to go. I've done things, things that I never would have dreamed of doing when I lived in Marsus' world.

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Why do you have faith?