So what exactly is faith? Not certitude or knowledge; not feeling or emotion. Faith is not a function of the head (thought) or the body (feelings). Perhaps faith is simply a choice, a decision of our free will. There is no absolute certitude; there is no felt feeling. We make a choice out of pure desperation. We're totally hopeless if we don't choose: there is a Power other than mine, other than human.
I do not know what It is. I cannot put It into adequate words. I don't necessarily have any positive feelings about It. I just choose! My choice is: It is. There is a Power. It may be Nature, a Source, a Force, an Energy, a Reality, a Creator of all that is—I don't, and can't, know for sure.
Now here is the alchemic magic. I have made a decision—that is my act of faith, my free choice. There is no evidence ("the evidence of things not seen"). But my mind, viewing this decision, accepts it as true—because if it's not true, all is lost. My mind concludes that it's reasonable. My mind's acceptance of this faith decision thus becomes my belief. Then the rubber meets the road. My body translates both the faith decision and the belief tenet as true: I act "as if" this expresses reality. I behave as if what I decided and believe is true—this is my act of trust.
There is no substance to faith; it is dark, thin—merely a decision. Richard Rohr says that faith is the acceptance of a Reality without any evidence, and once we accept it, the evidence for that Reality begins to appear!
Spiritual alchemy: the iron of doubt has been converted to the gold of action. I live "as if" and my life works. Perhaps that is evidence enough.
Choose your own concept! What word or phrase captures the qualities or attributes you need It to be or to have now, at this time? Your needs and concept will change over time. "Came to believe" is a process. Gandhi suggested that our concept of God will change as we do.
ACTIONS FOR TODAY:
Ask, reflect, choose, and write in your journal the qualities and attributes you need in your Higher Power.
I do not know what It is. I cannot put It into adequate words. I don't necessarily have any positive feelings about It. I just choose! My choice is: It is. There is a Power. It may be Nature, a Source, a Force, an Energy, a Reality, a Creator of all that is—I don't, and can't, know for sure.
Now here is the alchemic magic. I have made a decision—that is my act of faith, my free choice. There is no evidence ("the evidence of things not seen"). But my mind, viewing this decision, accepts it as true—because if it's not true, all is lost. My mind concludes that it's reasonable. My mind's acceptance of this faith decision thus becomes my belief. Then the rubber meets the road. My body translates both the faith decision and the belief tenet as true: I act "as if" this expresses reality. I behave as if what I decided and believe is true—this is my act of trust.
There is no substance to faith; it is dark, thin—merely a decision. Richard Rohr says that faith is the acceptance of a Reality without any evidence, and once we accept it, the evidence for that Reality begins to appear!
Spiritual alchemy: the iron of doubt has been converted to the gold of action. I live "as if" and my life works. Perhaps that is evidence enough.
Choose your own concept! What word or phrase captures the qualities or attributes you need It to be or to have now, at this time? Your needs and concept will change over time. "Came to believe" is a process. Gandhi suggested that our concept of God will change as we do.
ACTIONS FOR TODAY:
Ask, reflect, choose, and write in your journal the qualities and attributes you need in your Higher Power.
