Wednesday, April 16, 2008

FAITH IS WHERE THE BIGGEST BATTLES ARE FOUGHT


I need not go far to write bout this subject. This is right on my turf. It’s not that I have become an expert in this. Rather that I have fought so many battles on its front. If I were to sum up the whole of my life I would do it in just one word --- FAITH. Because that’s what it was then, is now, and always will be tomorrow and thereafter. It is how I connect with people, family, do my job, and manage myself. And I look to the universe believing that it would do what is best for me arranging the odds and ends of my blotched life so that it would make some sense to me at least.

Now you probably wonder, if faith is already there so then where would the battles be fought in all that?

The battles fought are in trying to keep the faith.

Those times when the pricks and thorns of life hit us at every turn, when people we trust suddenly are unkind and betray us, when we stand correct and yet still be misunderstood, when we are beaten down on the ground and nobody stops to pick us up, when we lose our fortunes homes family and then friends suddenly are nowhere to be found, when opportunities are nil and we stand on flimsy chances, when our health fails us and strength slowly ebbs away, or when our own thread of faith slips away and we begin losing faith in self --- these are the battles where faith is put to the test. Or maybe it should be said this way --- these are the battles where a person is put to the test. Sometimes when things get so rough and tough and there’s nothing or no one in sight to help us stay on track… faith fizzles out. That’s when we need a good boost quick. And where will it come from? From that tiny voice from within which says that all is not lost. And that all that’s needed is to set our gaze unto heaven and there we will find help and refuge. Yes, it’s that steady flame of faith – the mustard seed of faith just waiting to be summoned to the fore of our lives.

Faith is never lost. Because faith, I believe, is always there inside the person. But alas man is more often unable to summon faith when and where needed. Always it’s a struggle with rousing that tiny bit. Maybe it’s because we have so little confidence in our selves or we don’t trust our fellowmen enough. Maybe we’ve been wired to believe only those things we can see, touch, and hear. Maybe we don’t fully understand our God? Maybe we aren’t truly convinced that He can do something with so little? Sometimes even with nothing at all. Are we not often coaxed to muster up faith even the size of a mustard seed? That shouldn’t be hard to do, right? It’s only a teeny weenie size of faith and not a huge dramatic portion to bring forth our prayed for desires hopes or dreams. It must have been us being referred to with these words ‘O ye of little faith’ –thus spoken in utter frustration but by a very patient God. Wow, He sure loves us so much to put up with our foolishness and stupidity.

I am that stupid fool too but I have learned through my battles that I can’t live without faith --- Can’t go around disbelieving, not trusting, not hoping nor ignorant of possibilities that could happen anywhere anytime with anyone or anything that’s out there just waiting to be tapped or called forth to serve its purpose in my life. Faith is here simply within me in the core of self lit like a small candle in the dark… steadfast in its glow, unbending undimmed. It’s all up to me then to bring it forth and make it shine. So can you.

So then let it shine --- in all of our days, on everything we touch with our own lives, with every little word that comes out of our mouths, or every new thought born in our brains. Let Faith illuminate the space or every nook and cranny of our being… drench our souls with its sweet fragrance. Henceforth let’s make this faith ours – and a worthy offering to a patient loving merciful God.




8 comments:

  1. Dear Ellen,

    I have Faith on each word of this post.

    Your lines, "Those times when the pricks and thorns of life hit us at every turn, when people we trust suddenly are unkind and betray us, when we stand correct and yet still be misunderstood, when we are beaten down on the ground and nobody stops to pick us up, when we lose our fortunes homes family and then friends suddenly are nowhere to be found, when opportunities are nil and we stand on flimsy chances, when our health fails us and strength slowly ebbs away, or when our own thread of faith slips away and we begin losing faith in self --- these are the battles where faith is put to the test." are just so right.

    All I want to say here is what I read somewhere and I am thankful to God for sending this msg to me,

    " What can't kill you only makes you stronger!"

    Keep Faith. Keep Smiling!!

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  2. Hi Jigyasa,

    Yes, I have come across that quote too. It's a beautiful one -- also my favorite... " What can't kill you only makes you stronger!"

    Thanks for bringing it here. Glad to see it again.

    So how's your week getting along? anything new? how's the family? done any new posts lately? Whoah to me! lols that's so many questions. :-D :-D

    Well, I hope all's well and fine at your end. Am okay over here too. Take care and God bless you with everything good.

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  3. Hi Elen, this is your old friend Indrsish(I hope you still remember me). I was going through my old blogs and their comments, and I saw your site link. So I just dropped in to check...It's been very long since I visited yor blog last. I have changed my company and was a little wrapped up in work. You write as fluently as before.

    Indrasish.

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  4. Indrasish! that's so unlikely forgetting you - a good person and friend. Am glad that you took time to drop by the blog, how wonderful this is! But... you forgot to leave me your link so that I can visit you in your blog. :-)

    Anyway, I understand about changes coming to our respective lives and how these changes could get us so tied up in work and everything else that goes along with it. The important thing now is that you are here and I hope it won't be the last time.

    Keep in touch. Don't forget to tell me where I can reach you. Take care. Blessings to you and your family. :-)

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  5. @ ellen ...

    how true ... faith is just like a stick in hand ...

    vamsi

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  6. This is from Mann:
    Hi ellen,
    I am visiting after a long time----
    Well, whatever you said is not only true but I THINK THAT IS THE ONLY WAY (Experts call this a Philosophy) BY FOLLOWING WHICH THE PEOPLE ARE SURVIVING IN THIS WORD whether knowingly or unknowingly! I mean, the people have no options!!! That is the only way to live in this world.
    The people who are following this philosophy knowingly (you may call them 'better knowledged' ones) may not face the problem of loosing it's thread during difficult times BUT THE ONE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THIS UNKNOWINGLY (you may call them Ignorant) HAVE THE FINITE CHANCES OF LOOSING IT'S THREAD.
    (Remember, this can happen among your own children, so is my concern)
    Therefore, the question is "how to develop alternative methods to make THE IGNORANT PEOPLE to understand the IMPORTANCE of this philosophy???
    One method that is followed by the elders is by sharing their experiences with the younger generations, as you have done here, but I was wondering if this method can really work with the ignorant people!!!!!
    Your comments please!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello Mann,

    Will get back to you with a reply. It's nice seeing you again. Do you write in another blog? If so, how bout leaving me the link to it so that I can visit you there. :-)

    Take care.
    Blessings to you and your family.

    ReplyDelete

:-) Here's where I warmly welcome you and where you leave your footprints behind with fond memories attached to it of wonderful chats and friendships. Thank you for your comments. Or send your comments to ellen622@gmail.com. Will be seeing you in your blog too. God bless you!