What is faith?

 

    Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  When I was a kid it is one of two days I would attend church willingly, the other was Christmas eve.  When I think back on why those were the two days it doesn't even take a sec to make the connection on why, Jesus.  We as people of faith celebrate Christmas as a way to remember the birth of Christ and the amazing gift he was to this world.  At Christmas we as Americans tend to get caught up in the glitz and glamor and forget that the reason for the holiday and I personally think the reason for the Christmas Spirit is Jesus.  That feeling we all get when the seasons change, the lights and trees start to go up, and we begin smiling more and looking forward to those days spent close to our families, that is the love Christ had and gave to those around him.  So it makes sense that we fondly think of that time of year as mostly positive and enjoyable.  This weekend the faithful take time to remember his ultimate sacrifice.  But most of all his willingness to suffer for all of mankind.  

    Often when I think of the story of Jesus and his crucifixion I have a very hard time thinking of him as ever being human.  Throughout the bible we see him performing miracles, loving unconditionally, and most of all never making human mistakes.  In paintings he is shown in his glory and outlined with a white glow or descending from the heavens with hosts of angels.  People glorify him and rightfully so.  But when it is Easter and people are focusing on his agony I find my self focused on one of the few times in the scriptures he is very human, the Garden of Gethsemane.  As this glorified being went to the garden before ultimately being captured, tortured and killed he knelt in prayer to his father.  He knew by this time what his destiny and purpose was yet he went and "Fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I but as thou wilt."  He was asking God to stop his death, pleading for something he knew was not possible.  He then went to his disciples before returning a second time and praying "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."  A third time he prayed saying the same words.  So three separate times he expressed fear and doubt, both very human emotions.  When I think of this part of the bible it stands alone as the one time Jesus is human.  After that he is taken and the rest is history.  

    Just the other day I was discussing our current times and faith after seeing an article which said for the first time in our countries history less than 50% of people say they are religious or have some sort of faith.  That got me thinking of all the things today that I see in movies, music, tv, and all other forms of entertainment.  It was then that I made a connection to the Garden of Eden and how Satan has not changed his method in attempts to cause the fall of man.  In the Garden he tempts Adam and Eve by saying "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." To put it in more modern terms Satan is saying God is telling them not to eat it because then they will have all he has.  That God has established that rule to prevent them from something.  When I remembered that it was quickly apparent that Satan has not changed his tactics at all. Today world leaders, rich elites, and the most powerful people in the world are using the exact same tactics to maintain their wealth and power over others.  The ruling elites tell the poor that their problems are because the rich are holding them down.  They tell the rich the poor are trying to take what they have earned.  They tell the minority populations it is the majorities fault they cannot succeed.  They tell the majority the minorities are below them and should be pushed back down.  As you can see the tactic is the same.  Unfortunately the result will be the same in the end as well.  We are becoming a society of self centered and jealous cry babies who are not willing to accept that our own actions have caused all of our issues.  We are unwilling to teach our youth that decisions have consequences. We are unwilling to uplift those who are struggling just as much as they are unwilling to realize they can do it and need to put in the efforts to make change.  I see this as the beginning of the end.

    This weekend made me think long and hard about my life, my faith and my current struggles in finding that joy.  It was a very nice way to end the weekend watching the two hour Sunday morning session of conference.  It made me realize I need to find ways everyday to strengthen my faith and help to build that "Christmas feeling" in my everyday life.  So I am going to find a way to be more like Christ in my everyday.  For a few years I would gather people and food and create lunch bags and then distribute them to the homeless in my city.  After every event I would feel so much joy and happiness.  Since then I have been fostering dogs and helping them find new homes.  But I can and will do more.  So if you have any suggestions or ideas please let me know.

    I know this has not been my typical blog post but I am much deeper than just my politics!  If you enjoyed this please let me know and maybe I will include more of my personal side in this thing.