By Linda Sherry
Worship Support Specialist
For me, the word Faith is difficult – what does Faith even mean?? Personally, the idea of faith in God, is quite foreign to me. So how does Faith play out in the Unitarian Universalist perspective? What is Faith, if it does not refer to God? Does the word have any meaning or significance for me?
Yes, it does, and faith mysteriously sustains me. Perhaps we can explore our own perspectives on Faith with each other this month.
Here are some thoughts adapted from the Soul Matters materials for this Month:
The word Faith didn’t enter the English language until the 1200s after the Norman invasion, via the Old French ‘feid’ — in turn from the Latin ‘semper fidelis’ (always loyal). Its meaning then had nothing to do with belief in the absence of evidence, but rather with keeping promises and being worthy of trust; it was not a statement about belief, but about behavior. Over time, the religious notion of Faith came into play and came to suggest: One who is faithful to God is one who keeps God’s commandments. Faith, then, was believing that if one keeps to God’s commandments, God will reward them, either now or in the afterlife.
Sometimes talking about faith can wind us in circles. Ultimately, faith is too complex, visceral and personal to be easily defined, much less shared.
All of us know what it’s like to lose our faith. We’ve been betrayed by a relationship, let down by our church community, or convinced that life just won’t get better. For many, our greatest faith can sometimes be the belief that life and others don’t deserve our faith in them.
But sometimes our doubts need to be doubted. Sometimes life and the people around us need to be given a second chance.
More often than not, we can’t find or renew our faith on our own. It takes others. It takes exchanging ideas with others. It takes observing other and realizing that their commitment to justice renews our faith that a better world is possible. Their compassion and kindness (even when they have struggles of their own), renews our faith in humanity. Their bravery reignites our faith in ourselves.
So who is that “other” for you? Whose faithfulness renews your own?
And perhaps most importantly, have you told them?! Why is that so important? Well, simply put, telling them they sustain your faithfulness helps them sustain theirs. It keeps them going. It’s a gift to them. A gift that honors the gift they gave you.
So let me say, right here and right now, that this beloved spiritual community, of which YOU are a part, gives me strength to get through the rough stuff – helps me know that there’s always someone who will take my arm when I lose my balance, who will remind me of what a difference I CAN make, and reminds me that the values we share are worth living fully — You give me the faith to go on.
Thank You
Linda
Find the March Soul Matters packet here.