by Courtney Thinks

Created on: January 17, 2009

Faith is on a Doggy Airplane

Faith is many things to many people as I am finding out in my adult age. To Christians, in theory (and the tradition with which I am most familiar) FAITH is...

"... being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."Hebrews 11:1

I am in the middle of reading "Eat. Pray. Love by Elizabeth Gilbert where faith is explored as a guiding force out of the darkness of divorce and depression. Entire worldwide trips are planned and paid for (the likes of which I cannot fathom) to put feet to faith (and the pursuit of pleasure - more on that another time).

Faith is what we often put in doctors, brokers, planners, ministers and before all others, our parents. Faith is what we think fails us when those people fail but really our faith was proper and perfect, the imperfect people we looked to were not.

Faith has to do with spirituality and religion, with trust and certainty, with risk and reward:

You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it.

- Samuel Butler

"Faith is believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe."

- Voltaire

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to.

- From the movie, "Miracle On 34th Street"

(Found in a Jewish hiding place during the holocaust)
I believe,
I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining.
I believe in love
even when I cannot feel it.
I believe in God
even when God is silent.

- anonymous

First have faith in those around you, but most importantly always have faith in yourself!

- Elle Woods, Legally Blonde

When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen; There will be something to stand on, or you will be taught to fly.

- Jonathan Livingston Seagull
...you get the picture.

I don't know if my faith has suffered after the last few years of struggle in my life. I know I've changed churches after 15 years dedicated to a community, a fellowship, a vision, a church. The church I attend now is different and my religious practice is quieter, deeper, and surprisingly more satisfying than ever.

The Bible, though I believe it is God-breathed and hold it to be precious and sacred to me, is not the only book I use to pray and meditate. I'm not so concerned about verbally sharing my beliefs as living them out and being there for others when they need help - something along the lines

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