Keeping Our Center ~ Day 32

The third word I used to describe my call early on in seminary was “faith,” which might seem odd coming on the heels of “skepticism.” But the opposite of faith is not doubt, it is certainty. Heaven knows I didn’t have any certainty when I entered seminary. I had a very pure, simple faith that there was something more. It wasn’t anything factual, or anything I could prove, it wasn’t because “the Bible told me so,” I just knew. I still do. 

The truth of the matter is that I don’t have much more certainty about anything than I did then, it just bothers me less. I really, really, REALLY wanted solid answers to my questions in seminary. Gratefully, I was in a place where they didn’t give them to me. Instead, I was encouraged to ask more and more questions, to listen to my heart, and to measure truth based on love, kindness, and justice.

Brene’ Brown defines faith as “a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” As it always seems to be with the spiritual path, this is easier said than done. Yet, if we have faith that we are one with the One Who Is Love, surely some of this fear should ease.

Some of you know this about me, but one of my favorite movie lines of all times is from the Sound of Music when the Mother Superior says to Sister Berthe, “I always try to keep faith in my doubts.” No matter how challenging and scary life gets, this is my goal.

Love & Light!

Kaye