Faith

"You need one person to believe in you. You just need one." Lady Gaga

We were in small groups in my health class. The subject was aging. I was the only woman in a group of all very young men. When we came to the assigned topic of menopause, one of the guys looked at me and said, "You'll have to help us with this one." It was funny.

When we were discussing death, one of them talked of his struggles with the Roman Catholic faith in which he was raised. He asked me if I was religious, and I said I wasn't, that I used to be a Baptist but that really didn't work for me. I arrived at a place where the narrow worldview of black and white, right and wrong, good and evil, devil and god, heaven and hell just didn't make sense. I had embraced my beliefs with my usual enthusiasm and earnestness, but had to turn off the critical thinking part of my brain to be able to do that.I couldn't do that anymore.  He asked me what was I now, and I said maybe an agnostic, because I just don't know. Years ago I lost my faith, or so I thought at the time. It was a painful experience, and it seemed like the worst thing that ever happened to me.

I see now that I never lost my faith. I am still a believer. I believe that today is the best day, and that tomorrow will be even better. I believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, that while there is pain and suffering, the human spirit is amazingly resilient and can emerge triumphant. I believe in myself, in my ability to overcome obstacles, and to not let the many mistakes I've made in the past keep me from finding a better way for myself going forward. I believe that if I want things to be better, for myself, for those close to me, for the world in general, I will need to do something about that.

This faith extends to other people. Have you ever been at a time in your life when you just didn't think you were going to succeed, but knowing that someone else believed in you helped you get over the next hurdle? Knowing that someone else, even just one person, as Gaga says, can make all the difference in the world.

Who is it that you believe in? Who is it, that when they finally reach their goal, you will smile, nod and say, "I knew it all along"? Do they know how much you believe in them? Would it help them for you to tell them that today?

Susan

"Lean on Me" written by Bill Withers

Living Faith

"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." Mother Teresa

One day Jesus was speaking to his disciples. He told them that he was in prison and they didn't visit him, he was naked and they didn't clothe him, he was thirsty and they didn't bring him as much as a cup of water. They were astonished and asked him when did this all happen, because they couldn't remember. Surely if their Lord was in need they would try to do something about it. He answered that because they had not taken care of the "least" of those in society, they had not cared for him.

A few years ago I worked with a woman whose husband was a minister. She bowed her head in the break room before she ate her lunch. She didn't swear and she never laughed at an off-color remark or joke. If you asked her how her weekend was, she would tell you what happened at church. Wednesday night she had to be out the door at 5:00 sharp, because that was prayer meeting night. Her assistant went on maternity leave and the temp agency sent her someone. This young woman was a single mother who had never been married. She took cigarette breaks and her tops were a little too revealing, her skirts a little too short. She was a hard worker and tried to do her best, and the pastor's wife never would cut her a break. She criticized her endlessly for the most trivial things and gossiped about her in a most judgmental way behind her back. I wonder if she knew this woman had fled a physically abusive relationship. I wonder if she knew her assistant was renting a room in someone's home, that she and her two-year-old slept in the same bed for lack of room. I wonder if she knew what a struggle it was to pay for good day care. I wonder if she had any idea what a paycheck meant to this young woman, how important it was for her to be able to perform at this job so she and her child could eat. It's sad to me, because the religious woman had the most amazing opportunity. Right outside her office sat a person who was Jesus in disguise. All the love and devotion she felt for her Lord should have poured out to this young woman who was badly in need of some grace.

Susan