Faith

Faith exists beyond either time or space while encouraging and evoking both my hope and my love. In the early morning light, Holy Scriptures should lead us toward God. I read the Bible for both education and inspiration. I sometimes imagine myself as a hobo silently walking down a crowded street in the middle of an unfamiliar neighborhood, nowhere distinct yet somewhere closer to Heaven. There are candlesticks, picnic baskets, tumbleweeds, lilies and carnations surrounding my path. There is a forecast of thunder storms. The circumstance of my life can make me feel vulnerable, alone. There is a fragility in my existence; this fragility is universal. My life, like every person’s life, begins with birth, ends with death. In between will be many hopes, prayers, mistakes, trying to move me toward God sometimes, trying to move me away from God sometimes. When my faith is strong, I can keep moving toward God. Urban living allows us to anonymous but it can underscore our loneliness and desire for something to believe in. We need something to believe, a presence that is constant and merciful. I must always remember that I am a traveler on foot. God offers comfort, compassion, love. There is often something unsettled in our lives, something left unsaid, undone. There can be something ironic in our approach and discussion of God. We all want to believe; we must work to believe in God; we must work to have clean hearts and pure minds in our daily lives and when we pray to God. We can not intimidate God. We can only approach God with charity, humility, and compassion in our hearts. At times I am a tumbleweed being blown around by a fierce wind. At times I am a hobo looking for compassion and a shelter. Faith allows us to encapsulate the very essence of our humanity; our hopes and fears, strengths and weaknesses are displayed for us. Both the future and the past can be viewed as mirages as we try to live Christian lives based upon love, hope, and social justice. Our goodness and our kindness can be glimmers of compassion. We must always keep our lives focused on serving God, our destination must always be following Jesus Christ, journeying to the kingdom of heaven.

Our day to day lives might be prosaic, lacking any poetry or movement but we must always remember to pray and to live our lives based upon the Word.

I am sometimes the hobo searching for a meal as a tumbleweed bounces near my feet as I silently as God for mercy and forgiveness.

The Beauty

I have to remember that there is a visible Holy Spirit, leading me toward God, guiding me to doing his work, encouraging me to put others first. I want to learn humility and obedience. I must always remember that the Church was founded by Jesus Christ, and as a Christian there is an implicit promise to offer my life in service of God, to love everyone equally, and be merciful, humble, compassionate. The gates of heaven are not to be taken for granted. The apostolic Church allows us to learn how to love and serve God. As Christians our lives and our daily choices should reflect the Church’s ministry. I have to remember the sacraments, Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation.

I want to live a life that is holy and filled with God’s grace. Our lives should be filled with perpetual love and service to God. I want to add the Holy Scriptures to my daily routine, reverence for all of God’s teachings, respect for all. My faith includes silence. I can look to the saints for inspiration. I am looking for direction.

It was a singular hope that I find this inspiration, enhanced with the beauty and bounty of God.

I wonder if the over stimulation of our civilization leaves our hearts unoccupied. What will we discover about our faith? How can our lives be more devout? And do we all agree on the mission of the Church? Do we understand and believe the Church’s mission?

I hope that my life contains a pure zeal, a pure reverence for God. Each day provides lessons on how to be better, to move closer to God. My life leads me to holiness.

We commemorate our faith when we treat each other with respect and fairness; when we attend Mass and remember the Sabbath; when our lives are filled with obedience, humility, and charity. We must contemplate the saints, the Church’s creeds and prayers, the Church’s documents and dogma and use all of the knowledge from our faith in our daily lives. Our love in God makes us triumphant.

Our lives should include self-sacrifice and love.

I am searching for direction, filled with the hope of discernment. There is a desire for righteousness and holiness; however, there is a need to be merciful and forgiving in our daily lives and to live a life of worship celebrating the mystery of our faith.

I want my life to glorify God.