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One of the things I hold dear to me is my faith. My faith is what exactly? For one thing, it’s based on a being far greater than I; one who’s described in ancient scripture as the creator of all that l can and cannot see. One, who if he decides to withdraw his support from holding all things together, the universe would cease to exist. I often think about this being, this entity that I can in no way truly fathom his state of being. I can only, through faith, believe that he exists, and that he has my best interest at heart. That’s the only way the existence of an all-powerful being can make any sense, to believe that he cares about me as if there was no one else on the planet. And, to believe that he loves everyone the same way.

I think sometimes that the sheer enormity of God’s being is too much for me to understand. In a strange way, it has becomes routinized. I get up each morning without concern for another twenty-four-hour solar cycle, and all the other physical occurrences that mechanically function with the precision that supersedes the workings of the finest Swiss watch. Being a member of a faith community, I often hear what I call “faith speak”: God is good and good all the time; Give God what’s right… not what’s left; A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing; He who kneels before God can stand before anyone; In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma, but never let him be the period… Those of us who have been a part of the faith community for some time, have become accustomed to hearing saying like these. They’ve become platitudes of sort, intended to project the depth and width of our faith. However, we hear them so often until they have become platitudinous, seemingly holding insufficient reverence for the celestial landlord of the little blue dot which we occupy. These sayings, oftentimes, seem no weightier than, “have a good day.”

I often find myself in awe of the one I pay homage to for his work as creator/sustainer. I can’t always find the right words to communicate during personal prayer and meditation. Of course, scripture tells me that I need not worry during these times, because there is a spiritual connection that ensures my true thoughts and feelings are made known, whether I know how to say them or not. It’s that dynamic that makes it clear to me that my faith is more than platitudes. I can’t sum it up in little sayings intended to be truly heartfelt expressions of faith, but somehow sound like factory produced mantras for the masses, who lack appropriate words of their own, as do I.

My faith is indeed more than platitudes, more than what others might want to offer as a definition for it. It was authored by God and given to me. He has honored me with exercising stewardship of it. I’m not always a good steward of it. I can’t seem to keep in a state continuous linear projection. My faith ebbs and flows; however, it’s mine, given to me by God, and I thank him for it.

I’m old and blessed…hope you will be too.