Let's Talk About Faith...

This blog is actually going to be a shortened and slightly modified version of the first chapter of a book that I have in the works. I wrote this specific part back in October of 2009:

I think it’s safe to assume that most everyone out there at some point in their lives have heard that G-d is in control and G-d has a plan. Depending on the situation and what you believe, this may or may not be a comfort. I see it as a comfort, but that certainly hasn’t been the case all my life. Sadly, we aren’t just born with the drive to completely give every little thing to G-d. That whole “human nature and ability to choose” thing seems to get in the way at the worst of times. We then find the door opened wide to stress, fear, and a need for control that isn’t rightfully ours. G-d made humans to be complex creatures with the ability to feel and act in so many different ways, including following His lead without question. Unfortunately, original sin makes it impossible for us to be born with this. We start out with our world revolving around us and then we slowly learn that there are more people in this reality than we first realized. This is a lesson that slowly grows throughout our lives. While the lesson can go in different directions depending on the person, we all eventually have to face the fact that the world revolves around G-d and His Will. This is an inevitable lesson, which is learned either before or after death.

As a baby, we are completely helpless and self centered. It’s how life begins for all of us. When you are hungry, you want to eat right now. When you are cold, you want warmth right now. When you are lonely, you want someone there to hold you right now. It doesn’t matter if they are sleeping or busy. What’s worse, babies are actually very smart. They observe, take things in, and eventually notice patterns. They know what to do to make mommy and daddy come running to give them whatever it is that they want. Makes a small part of you wish you could turn back the clock doesn’t it? Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Soon you start to get a little older and all of the sudden, you are starting to learn a new word...no. Now mommy and daddy are trying to tell you that it’s not ok to do whatever you feel like doing. If you want a toy another child has, you suddenly aren’t supposed to just go take it. If you see something you want when you are in the store with them, they won’t always buy it for you! Even after you’ve cried and screamed and made it very clear that this is what you want. In a new twist, the crying and screaming actually gets you in trouble now. It seems like you are being limited more and more. To be honest, this is a quality that we never lose. It’s just evolves over the years. Let me explain.

A toddler is curious about the mug sitting next to daddy with the weird clouds rising out of it. Daddy says “no” when the child walks over and grabs for it and even moves it out of reach. In the child’s mind, he or she should be able to touch it. It’s something new and interesting. They should be able to look at it and try to understand it and play with it. But in daddy’s mind, touching the mug of hot coffee could result in a very bad burn that could lead to his child going to the hospital. We have all heard the phrase “We are children of G-d” and it’s probably truer than people sometimes realize. G-d is a perfect being. He sees and knows all. He knows the cause and effect of every single decision we will ever be faced with. And I’m not just limiting this to the consequences that we feel personally. He sees how one little act or mistake can cause a domino effect that could influence several generations. Unfortunately, humans don’t instinctively think that way. When we find ourselves in a situation, the desired outcome is usually one that we feel is going to make us the happiest. Wanting this doesn’t make us bad people, it just makes us human. For example, a man and a woman are in a marriage. It’s no longer the healthiest relationship but there’s a lot of history there and humans have always found comfort in familiarity. Sure there are fights and some unspoken resentment but (as a person tends to tell themselves) it could always be worse. One day, the man comes home and sits his wife down and tells her that he is having an affair and wants a divorce. The wife, devastated, enters into what I like to call the negotiating phase. She sees she could end up no longer married to this man, which, despite anger and hurt; she doesn’t want to have happen. So she starts to try to make promises and changes. She works hard to figure out what this other woman has that she doesn’t. But despite her best efforts, he files for divorce and they eventually split. I’m sure there are plenty of things that went through your head when you read that she tried to keep him around. It can seem so easy, when looking in from the outside, to say,”Forget him! He’s obviously a jerk.” Or “Why would you want to stay with someone that obviously doesn’t love you?” It seems a little crazy doesn’t it? Who knows why she tried to hold on. Maybe she was scared. Maybe she had kids and thought the family should stay together for their sake. Maybe she loved him so much she can’t see herself with anyone else. The possibilities are endless. What she didn’t know was that, a few years down the road she would find herself in a relationship with a man that would surpass everything she has ever had. Had she been able to look ahead and see that event, she would have probably just let him leave without thinking twice. She would have known beyond the shadow of a doubt there was someone better for her out there. Obviously this isn’t limited to love or relationships...people have lost jobs, people have lost homes, people have had to move...the list goes on. These things are usually not the happiest times in a person’s life but they can at times be G-d saying, “I have something better in mind, so please have faith in my guidance.”

The unknown is probably one of the least desirable places to be at any point in your life. I speak from experience on this. But what would be the point of faith if we were able to look ahead like G-d can and see everything coming? At times you can find yourself in the middle of the worst situation you have ever dealt with and everything in you, everything human about you, makes you want to take control and fix it. At times, G-d does equip us to do so. But sometimes all G-d wants us to do is drop to our knees and say “OK, I accept that this is in your control G-d. Show me the way.” And what’s even harder is to follow that with the genuine act of trusting G-d and what He has planned. Don’t get me wrong, trusting G-d doesn’t magically make you feel super about everything that’s going on. You are still human after all. And there have been times that I have found myself taking back what I gave to Him. When that happens, I once again have talk to G-d, let Him know how I feel, apologize for losing faith, and then hand it back over to Him.

The power and the love of G-d is greater than anyone or anything that comes our way. It always has been and it always will be. And He repeatedly promises to never turn His back on us. Not even when we deserve it. So why not open your arms and your heart to the love that He has waiting for you. Open your hand and reach out to the arms that He has had waiting for you this whole time, and allow Him to help guide you to a better place. Faith is probably by far the scariest thing imaginable, but it’s also the safest and most wonderful thing you can ever open yourself up to.

G-d Bless!

K