Faith in the Big Easy
Posted by Dominique, a St. Paul's youth group member:
A term that has been reoccurring during this mission experience is "faith". Its definition varies between individuals. It's my belief that there are two forms of Faith. The subconscious one sums up basic thoughts of trust. This includes going to sleep at night and believing that when, or if, you wake up in the morning, all of your belongings will be exactly as they were when you retired to your bed. This basic faith is usually not even considered a part of having faith in God, but without that basic faith, all an individual has to guide them through life is a constant state of paranoia. The other form of faith is more commonly thought of, whether it's daily or weekly. People constantly wonder what keeps them safe throughout the day, what created them, and who they should put their trust in. This type of faith can be in friends, family, or greater beings like God. With faith, life seems simpler. It's easier to rely on companions than it is to be in a constant state of emergency, never allowing yourself to be at ease with your current situation. The people of New Orleans may have found themselves being forced to depend on the latter form of faith while they awaited rescue. Some, however, have lost all faith and believe that society has turned its shoulder on this incredibly cultured part of our nation. While there are pessimists sitting safely, quietly, and dryly in their homes as they assume that the Katrina problem has been solved just because of the duration of time, there are people suffering and wondering why their constant faith has not paid off. There are plenty of individuals that question God and the government about their current predicament. Why did Katrina have to attack this diverse corner of our nation, or more importantly, why did Katrina come at all? In the mean time, those of us fortunate enough to live far away from the radius of Katrina must understand the pain that the people of New Orleans. We should follow their example of faith in their nation and God to help, even if it's in small groups like the one St. Paul's Episcopal Church sent, and strengthen our relationships with people as we learn to trust and love.
My definition of faith- Rising after you've been knocked down, brushing off your pants, and resuming what you have already begun.
Dom -
How eloquent. And a great defintion! You all are showing that faith is still alive, that others still care and that God is working on all of our lives.
Jeanne