Today is one of those very wet cold days that you get here where I live. Roads are closed, people are struck and others are complaining about the cold and the wet. But for me it has been interesting to look at peoples different perspective. You see where others are looking outside and seeing rain, wind and misery. Personally, I'm getting excited - what makes the difference. A certain seasons pass to the ski slopes. I don't see rain, wind and misery, I see snow on the slopes and lots of it. I see the opportunity that later on I'm going to be snowboarding (or in my case "kind of snowboarding kind of tumbling") down some great snow packed slopes. it does bring a different persective. I'm sure there a lesson there somewhere???
The other week at The Station we did a "Question & Doubt Service". People were given the opportunity to write down questions and doubts they had about their faith and we discussed them. People were honest - it was great. I'm a firm believer in the fact that doubts can be stepping stones of faith if we journey with them. Last night we looked at "faith". It's a Christian word that we throw around a lot - but really what do we mean by it? Maybe a bigger question is what does it mean to "Live by faith?" For me behind Christian faith is the faithfulness of God. Phillip Yancey says that to "live by faith" means to live looking back at what Christ done and forward at what He promises to do. It was great to bat around how that works Monday to Saturday. What does a life of faith look like? But for me I suppose another aspect of faith is related to those doubts and questions that we have.....in the end I am a servant of God whose thought and ways are above mine. By grace He chooses to call this servant "friend". Do I know the answers to everything - No Way - do I have faith in that fact that Jesus died and rose again and someday will return - You Bet. I'm prepared to journey with that - and I'll journey with my unknown questions - cos behind them is a belief that the cross proves God is active and good.
“If knowing answers to life’s questions is absolutely necessary to you, then forget the journey. You will never make it, for this is a journey of unknowables - of unanswered questions, enigmas, incomprehensibles, and most of all, things unfair"
MADAME JEANNE GUYON
Till Next Time
