Faith... It’s a simple word. Just five letters. Three consonants and two vowels. A simple word. Simple but full of meaning.

To some the meaning is vague, a word bandied about in religious and spiritual circles but still unclear. To others, it is the bedrock of their lives.

They often wonder where they would be without it. And to still others find that its meaning ebbs and flows in daily living.

There are times when we feel it, experience it, know we have it and other occasions when doubt seems to overwhelm us.

I have had a lot of conversations with people this week about faith. Individuals who were questioning their faith and others who were rejoicing at how their faith helped them to triumph over some very trying circumstances.

I do not have one simple definition of faith. There are several that work for me. One of the most meaningful comes from the minister and therapist, Morton Kelsey. He defines faith as “trusting that the universe is kindly intentioned toward us.”

That seems, to sum up, my conversations this week.

Learning to trust that as things are happening in our lives, we are connected to God who has already worked them out. It sounds simple enough and it is.

The hard part is when an unexpected turn of events takes place.

It is like riding a roller coaster.

You are looking ahead, feeling the sun and wind on your face, looking around at the scenery and enjoying that feeling. You are experiencing one of the smooth parts of the track.

Suddenly, it jerks into a turn, your head snaps, your entire body is jarred as it slams into the side of the car. Or the car drops and you fly up out of your seat– a brief thrill– only to plop back down and flop around some more.

It can be a thrilling ride or one that completely unnerves or even terrifies you Yet you trust– you know that ultimately you will make it back to the station.

But while you are whipping around out there, it is sometimes hard to realize that you will indeed make it.

None of us knows all of the twists and turns that our lives will take. What could we do about it even if we did?

Because our lives involve interactions with other people, objects, and events, trying to avert every disaster, influence every outcome, prevent all unfortunate circumstances would prove too much work for even the strongest of us.

No, that is why it comes back to trusting that the universe– that God– is kindly intentioned toward us. Kindly-- not angrily. Not punishing nor blaming. Loving and caring.

We trust that God loves us and is with us through each and every twist and turn.

When we learn to let go we find that even in the roughest parts of the ride, we know we are okay.

If we let go enough we soon learn how to better deal with the next jerk, drop or turn and it becomes less jolting to us.

Soon we have the faith that God is along for the ride.

New Every Moment,
John