This whole thing runs on faith. All of it. That’s a difficult reality to accept and to transition into fully living out of. For the first 31 years of my life, I was graced with a foundation. One that had faith with many great concepts, truths and realities that kept me in a strong place. One that taught me to spend and save well. One that afforded me a house before 30 and straight As in college. One that left me with little regrets in high school and college. But did the foundation I created based on faith, teach me to also let go into the practice of living by faith? That part, I am continually learning, is a step of trust which all of the doing and thinking and control and beliefs cannot produce.
The growth step of a faith from beliefs into lifestyle / world view / embodiment can only be lived. Each moment of my days I am faced with constant reminders, if I pay attention to them, that I am living by faith. That this life is founded on faith. Will I wake to see it? Will I choose to live in a way that reminds me this next breath is a gift. Waking this morning… a gift out of my control. Life has always been a gift. So all of my doing, all of my planning all of my perceived and attempted “control” which has helped me for so long, can still help me a lot, and yet can also only get me so far in this deeper path toward living by faith.
Living by faith I can give more than normal or previously comfortable, trusting the God of this whole thing is caring for me and will provide.
Living by faith I can allow people to be who they are in all of their imperfections trusting the God of this whole heart will provide the love that she needs.
Living by faith reminds me that I don’t have to be perfect today nor can I work hard enough to make myself so and I don’t have to let that crush me, trusting the God of this whole thing is the real One who perfects and recreates. I can only participate and fuel that process.
Living by faith I can walk through the dark by trusting the light always comes.
Living by faith I can embrace death and loss trusting resurrection and goodness to be on the horizon again.
Living by faith is hard. It’s full of so much tension. It’s “hands off” when it comes to being in control, and hands on in each moment in terms of loving well. It’s full of not knowing. It’s full of open ended outcomes and futures and stories. It’s one that can only really exist right here. It can’t jump ahead, knowing my thoughts about the ahead will always be confabulations until I arrive there. This is the only space I can be with God and God, I trust, is here with me. This is the space that I have been given to be developed within. This is the story of redemption and dark to light and death to life being lived out. I do not have it in my control. And it will be OK. It always has been up until now. Ok may not mean what my thoughts thought it would have meant. Ok will mean trusting the way is through everything that happens. Will mean everything belongs. Will mean God has got this in His good hand. Even this. Faith will mean trusting God and his provision to be good even when circumstances want you to believe otherwise.
If you find the answer to living by faith, please share it. But, wait. I guess that’s the whole point. Not having the answer. Living in the land between. Living in the tension. Trusting the good still exists, always exists and will always will out.
For look all around you – it is the deeper story if you will see it. Look at the birds, they don’t toil or store away and yet they are cared for daily. Look at the flowers, they don’t primp and cover up or shop and yet they are clothed beautifully again and again. This whole thing is on our side. Your side. May we all learn to jump away from the foundation of certainty, having it all together and knowns, and into the practice of faith, trust, hope, the unknown, and ultimately the presence of Love already present and holding it all.
Grace, Peace & Namaste.
Little Extras
Thank you for visiting! This picture is a shot from a gorgeous morning at Lancaster Central Market – one of my favorite places on earth. It’s the little things when we notice them that bring joy. I love little things like this. Sun. Cool air. Market. 🙂
Rachel Held Evan’s latest book Inspired just came out and is amazing. It is smooth and enjoyable to read and yet it is so eye opening, challenging and beautiful in how she opens scripture to be interesting, hopeful, confronting, comforting, and immensely dynamic. I love it! Check it out.
One of my favorite bloggers and authors to follow Deb Fileta’s latest is out and I’d recommend if you like Christian Psychology and relationship reads: Choosing Marriage. I’m also excited she’s announced her podcast is coming soon!
Excited about this one on it’s way to my house as I type this… Richard Rohr Just This
Really enjoyed this podcast from Annie F. Downs this week with Andrew Peterson (thanks to the friend who recommended it 😉 )
Also really enjoyed Rob Bell’s concepts on “the undernet” this week.
That’s enough content to keep you going for a month I hope 😉
I’ve had time to post a few more gifts on my meditation podcast. If you’re looking to help your brain re-wire, help bring some space around the thoughts and feelings that race, help connect with the mystery beneath all of your anxiety and thinking and feeling, I highly recommend meditation and contemplative prayer. If not with me, anywhere you can. Namaste beautiful friends. Listen and practice with me anytime: YogaBreathePray
