A Different Kind of Faith
“St. John of the Cross calls it “The Dark Night of the Soul.” He says those seeking God will walk the paths of others but eventually those paths will end and there will be no path.” www.reallivepreacher.com
For my confirmation in a Christian faith, I chose the name of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Having faith in her immovable faith, I hoped it would “rub off on me.” I wanted to have great faith; I wanted to believe in the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark and maybe even the Virgin Birth. But, for some time I had been thinking: “God, why can’t I believe when everyone else does?”
Then, “I believe in a Higher Power; is that good enough?” I moved on to “Why do I sometimes believe then wish I had a Sign — maybe a booming voice from above that says, “Hey Stupid, here I am.” But I didn’t. So maybe Mother Teresa’s faith would become mine if I invoked her support, I thought.
Imagine my surprise when I learned that Mother Teresa had been in her own Dark Night of the Soul – for 50 years. Now I think of Mother Teresa and how she soldiered on while in the throes of her spiritual loneliness and I feel like I’m whining – and for little reason.
I searched for answers. One source pointed out that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for faith before his arrest and crucifixion. Another says the Dark Night is a purification process – a growth in holiness.
I like things simple. I agree with reallivepreacher.com Gordon Atkinson. He says, “People who doubt can have great faith because faith is something you do, not something you think. In fact, the greater your doubt, the more heroic your faith.”
Mother Teresa, in spite of feeling like God had put her on hold, kept helping the poorest of poor for 50 years after her doubts began to torment her! She was faithful even as she felt abandoned. Faithful is a good way to go. If we sometimes waver in our faith in a God we can believe in as if He’s sitting in our kitchens but act on faith, isn’t that a different but not less important faith? If I follow in the way of a God, of a spiritual leader, love and care for others, isn’t that a holy faith?
Meditation for the Day
“And what does the Lord require of you, O man, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” Micah 6:8
Action for the Day
Today, I’ll accept that each person’s faith may be different but not less than. Today, I’ll follow Micah’s advice: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with my God. I will be faithful.
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