Please Welcome Our Speaker for Tonight — Mrs. Faith

Why is it so hard to talk about faith?

Good evening.

I’d like to introduce myself. A lifelong Christian, a full-time wife, and a mom to three rescue dogs. Also an aspiring writer.

So, let’s begin.

An Interactive Video Lesson

I recently attended an interactive video workshop where we were asked to briefly describe who we were and what we were writing. Being the usual “idjit supreme,” I accidentally muted myself and blacked out my thumbnail photo. Did I mention I’m a grandmother?

It follows that I decided to lurk and listen. I’m good at that. I made notes of people I wanted to have further contact with and was amazed and cowed by the talent in the group.

Not a good feeling, but I long ago accepted that there would always be people more knowledgeable and talented than yourself, and the only way to deal with it was to pull up your big girl panties and do the best you could.

The Takeaway

So, what was my predominant takeaway from listening carefully?

The number of times the word “spiritual” or “spirituality” was used.

I feel with my fellow writers, but I have issues with that word. I often get the feeling it’s used to cover several issues when no other tag would quite fit.

I follow Ignatian Spirituality which I will share later.

What is Spirituality?

Merriam-Webster defines Spirituality as:

• Something that in ecclesiastical law belongs to the church or to a cleric as such
• CLERGY
• Sensitivity or attachment to religious values (Emphasis mine.)
• The quality or state of being spiritual

Oxford Dictionary states spirituality is:

• The quality of being concerned with religion or the human spirit (emphasis mine).

Collins Dictionary states:

• Relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter; intangible ·
• Of, relating to, or characteristic of sacred things, the Church, religion(Emphasis mine.)

But what I love best is the following:

Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or sense or belief that there is something greater than myself, something more to being human than sensory experience, and that the greater whole of which we are part is cosmic or divine in nature (Dr Maya Spencer).

And there it is: Something greater than myself

This Brings Me To the Elephant In the Room

I have unwavering faith. I’ve learned not to say this unless I’m in a like-minded company. If not, I always create an uncomfortable silence. Funny that.

Do people think I’m apt to whip a Bible out of my purse and start preaching? Or start reciting the Old Testament? Or burst into song?

Okay, I’ve been known to do the singing bit, but I just like singing anywhere for no good reason.

If I say I’m spiritual, people will nod, smile, agree, and tell me so are they.

What Is the Problem With Bringing Up Faith?

Let’s get back to our good dictionaries and take at a definition of faith by intelligent people.

What is Faith

Merriam-Webster: Belief and trust in and loyalty to God.

• Belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion.
• Firm belief in something for which there is no proof

Oxford has the following to say:

• Trust in somebody’s ability or knowledge; trust that somebody/something will do what has been promised. And there’s more:
• If the company can retain its customers’ faith, it could become the market leader.
• Faith in somebody/ something I have faith in you — I know you’ll do well.
• We’ve lost faith in the government’s promises.
• Her friend’s kindness has restored her faith inhuman nature.
• I wouldn’t put too much faith in what she says.
• He has blind faith (= unreasonable trust) in doctors’ ability to find a cure.

Let’s take a look at Collins

• Unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence
• Unquestioning belief in God, religious tenets, etc.
• A religion or a system of religious beliefs.
• Anything believed.
• Complete trust, confidence, or reliance.
• Allegiance to some person or thing; loyalty.
• Bad faith, good faith.

I can go into uncountable and countable nouns and drive everyone dilly, so I won’t. The fact remains:

When I say I have unwavering faith, yes it would be my religious beliefs.

But don’t just scrap the word from your vocabulary because it has become socially unacceptable to have a belief system in God.

Faith = I Trust = I Believe

I have faith that my garden will flourish if I do what is needed.

I have faith in my elected officials that they will do what is right and necessary. (Well, maybe not.)

I have faith in my child’s teachers to nourish her seeking young mind.

I have faith in the Boys In Blue to keep us safe.

I have faith in the pilot to fly this plane expertly through a thunderstorm.

The list goes on and on. We use the word so often that we don’t even realize we’re doing it. Try and replace this with a noun for being spiritual. It doesn’t work.

How Does the Bible Define Faith?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith = Confidence=Trust

I read these definitions one by one, again and again, searching for a way to simplify and condense. I finally decided to apply Occam’s Razor of :

The best answer is probably the simplest one

And concluded:

Whether you follow spirituality or whether you espouse the faith you have:

There is a Higher Being.

Now if you will give me a few more minutes of your time, I’d like to get back to what I mentioned a little while ago.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

I’ve been studying Ignatian Spirituality for several years. At the time, I was going through a nasty bout of dissatisfaction with myself, my life, what I’d done, and what I failed to do, and I found myself turning into one grumpy old lady.

When my church offered a course in Ignatian Spirituality, I was the first to sign up. The study was named after the 15th-century soldier turned priest who had led a colorful life.

God sent a French cannonball careering into Ignatius of Loyola’s leg in the middle of a war. God turned Paul’s life around when he flipped him from his horse on the way to Damascus.

A little background: Ignatius was born in 1491 into a wealthy Spanish family. He led the life of a courtier, loved the ladies, and loved life. A soldier’s life appealed to him, and off he went. War was different in those days. After being wounded, the French troops carried him back to his family. Imagine that.

Ignatius was holed up in a family castle to recuperate. The only available literature: books on the lives of Christ and the saints. Ignatius devoured both and decided he would take on a lifestyle of poverty. He suffered greatly from numerous surgeries on the injured leg. In the end, he ended up with a lifelong limp.

What we know today as the Jesuit Order was established by St. Ignatius.

I Started My Course

I started the course irritable and with an “I don’t like being in a group,” attitude. Why did I sign up for this? Grumble, grumble.

Some participants irritated me for several reasons. They talked too long. They interrupted. They went off-topic. And so on.

Then it happened.

A proverbial cannonball hit me within the second week.

Did my irritating fellow students change as the course continued?

No, I did.

The classes impacted my life as few other things have done.

I leave you with a few definitions of Ignatian Spirituality.

What Is Ignatian Spirituality?

Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. It insists that God is present in our world and active in our lives. It is a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others.

Father James Martin has the last word:

See God in everything

It takes a bit of work. But it’s so worth it.

Questions anyone?