Higher Power

Sometimes I wonder how people who don't believe in a higher power of any sort manage to get through difficult times or even the little day to day mishaps. If they seem happy, I really wonder what they do to get through. My faith is sometimes the only thing that gets me through these times.

We are all saddled with so many burdens these days. Life can seem oppressive. lonely, and overwhelming. People seem to float silently in their own little bubbles, concerned only with what affects them. We forget about each other...that we are put here for each other. It's a comfort to me to know that there is something bigger than myself, a higher energy, or energies, that I can call on for strength.

These energies are often in the form of like minds and hearts, some of whom we have never or will never meet. who are vibrating, or thinking and feeling on the same wave length. My Father, the Mighty King (as I call H.I.M.) has shown me hope, given me strength, and provided me with the tools to gather and use that strength. To those "non-believers" this may sound obtuse, but I am thankful for the resilient spirit having faith in goodness has created.

In my opinion, even when two gather and have reasonable discourse about good in the universe with the purpose of understanding and being better, that, in itself, is a higher power. Any good we even think about is a higher power...if good is being defined as that which helps and doesn't harm.

I write this at the end of a long day filled with doubt, unfulfilled dreams, hard news, and no shoulder to cry on. I am struggling to cope with that which I cannot control or understand...yet. Still, I have writing, music, and hope...for that I am thankful.

Fearlessness vs. Faith: Resolved by MLK

This is a piece I wrote a while back, but I never posted it because I was unable to draw a conclusion. Today, one came to me...

I've heard people talk about being fearless as though it were the ultimate accomplishment. I've heard others talking about faith as though it was all that was needed. I started pondering the difference between the two and which one was more beneficial. I know I have faith, but am I fearless? Thefreedicionary.com defines fearless as follows: without fear, brave, oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them. It defines faith as : confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing, a strong or unshakable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence.  So both deal with the unknown. Being fearless requires being resolute which is defined as such : firm in purpose or belief; steadfast. Hmmm, faith speaks of having "strong or  unshakable belief." They seem similar, but are they the same?

Fearlessness requires bravery which is defined as possessing or displaying courage. Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear." Faith calls for one to have a strong belief. This is usually associated with religion, a belief in a higher power, but it is not limited to religion. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." Now that's unshakable belief! I've come back to this piece a few times, not sure where I was going, until I read Dr. King's quote, on this day which we have chosen to celebrate him.

Did you know that Dr. King never wanted to be the leader of the civil rights movement? He studied theology with the intention to become a preacher. It was when he was asked to join, and eventually lead, the Montgomery Bus Boycott that his purpose started becoming clear. He had much trepidation about taking on this role. He knew, after all, the dangers and repercussions of doing so. But Dr. King was a man of great faith. He knew a stair would appear with each step.

 

Some may not agree with Dr. King's methods, or even his ideology. One does, however, have to respect the man for taking a role that made him a shield for those who backed them. The arrows hit him first. He was arrested 30 times during the civil rights movement. He made himself vulnerable in order to strengthen the lives of the people.

We have opportunities to make ourselves vulnerable and step out on faith daily. We share our views and opinions, we apply for jobs, go on dates. When we try to make connections of any kind with our fellow humans whether with family, friends, or romantically, we make ourselves vulnerable, and step out on faith. What if we step out on faith to do what is right and good for all, even if we have fear? Dr. King made many sacrifices for humanity, even in the face of danger. I give thanks for the sacrifices and the lessons on faith. Love and light.

Are you ready for the end?

Lately with all of the birds falling out of the sky, fish dying and with 2012 on our heels people have been talking about the end of the world. I've been reading a lot about what some people have to say about the so-called Mayan 2012 end of world predictions and the one thing I've seen the most is proselytizing. People are trying to convert sinners to a "righteous path" by instilling the fear of the end of the world coming soon. As devious as that is, it is something that has been going on for centuries. But it did get me thinking. If everyone is so fearful and convinced that the end of the world is coming December 21, 2012, are you ready?

Christianity is the largest religious group world wide with an estimated 2.1 billion members, or 33% of the world's population with Islam and Hinduism coming in second and third with 21 and 14% respectively(www.adherents.com). It is fair to say that most religions follow dogma that requires its followers to live a good life and be kind to others in order to pass on to a "heaven" lest they go to "hell." So with all of this worrying about the end of the world, shouldn't we start seeing a kinder gentler world in preparation for the end of the world as we know it?

I personally have not witnessed more caring, loving, repenting going on. I can only conclude that this fear is of the actual end, and not what comes after. It makes me suspect of religion. Christianity alone holds great power in the world. It has at least 2.1 billion people, and a million other non Christians spending billions of dollars a year on Christmas gifts and trees, and decorations. How is it that it can't bring comfort and security to all of those people awaiting the end of the world? There's an old saying in the south, "If you're scared, go to church," I guess they were wrong about that.

I see sons mistreating their mothers, co-workers backstabbing co-workers, businesses and government agencies taking advantage of the poor. People are behaving as badly as ever. I even read that people have been calling NASA to inquire about the so-called Mayan predictions and one woman said she considered killing her children and herself so they wouldn't have to endure the end of the world. I guess she was agnostic. This goes back to faith. What is religion really doing for people if there is so much fear and distress in the world. What is it doing for people if there is still so much oppression, greed, violence, lying, thievery, and sexual deviance in the world?

Studies I've read say that the Maya Long Count calendar is merely going back to zero after December 21, 2012 and starting a new cycle, that there are no predictions of any sort in any Mayan documents found. The keeping of time, after all, is a man made thing. As reprehensible as it is for religious groups to promote fear in order to get people to repent in preparation for the "end of the world," I can kind of see why they would do it. But why not just promote living righteously and being good to each other because it is the right way to live? Isn't that what "religion" is supposed to do? Love is my religion, maybe everyone should join me.

Mustard seed or mountain moving?

Wikipedia says "Faith is the confident belief or trust in a person, idea, or thing that is not based on proof." While the bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  (Hebrews 11:1-KJV) I find the difference in the two definitions fascinating because they are completely opposite. While Wikipedia says that faith is believing in something or someone without proof, the bible says faith is the proof, or evidence. So which is the correct definition?

I think the key here is the "what" to which each definition refers. That is to say, Wikipedia is referring to trusting a person, idea, or thing, whereas the bible as a whole is clearly referring to a higher power. It in fact states, "Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save." (psalm 146:3 NIV) So the definition of faith resides in that in which we choose to put our trust. So, who do you trust?

I know many who think that faith means blindly trusting when it comes to God. But I think it really depends on how well you are able to see. If faith is "the evidence of things not seen," then there must a reason to have faith. For example, have you ever prayed for something and gotten it? Maybe you wished for it instead, and the universe granted it to you. When we go to bed at night, generally, we have "faith" that we will wake up in the morning, do we not? Making plans of any sort is an act of faith in itself because we do not know if they will come to fruition or what obstacles we will incur.

Now, as to trusting a person, idea, or thing, how much evidence do you have in your life that this kind of faith is real, or beneficial? Perhaps most people have been able to have faith that their parents had their well being and best interest in mind when they were growing up, but we of course know that that is not true for all. The idea of equal rights and justice for all has yet to prove itself to exist, and that's not just my opinion, but a fact. Can you trust that the guy you're buying a car from is being truthful about the condition of the car? Do you trust that car will run well without having to have lots of major repairs? I guess it's really a coin toss, a 50/50 chance you take when it comes to having faith in a person, idea, or thing.

Faith, for me personally, gives me peace. I don't have faith that my Father, the Mighty King, will give me whatever I ask of HIM. I do, however, have faith that He will give me everything I need and what's best for me. There is comfort in that for me. When I am going through trials and tribulations, the only one who can console me is my Father, the Mighty King, and that's 100% of the time. I guess, in my opinion, if I'm nervous or ill at ease at all, that's not faith, but if I can rest easy and not worry, that is faith. I don't put my trust in horses and chariots or men, for they fail to comfort me. I can only feel comforted, at peace and rest easy, when I have faith in my Father the Mighty King. He has given me ample evidence, proof, and reason to do so. In what or whom to do you have faith ?