Word-Of-the-Week #814: Faith
March 12, 2020 by Susan Clarke
Faith – strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence.
Have you ever had a feeling that you knew something but didn’t know how or why? Do you ever have strong gut feelings? Do you follow your instincts?
My sweet sister Lurene came up with this week’s WOW after we had a conversation about knowing things that we don’t know how we know. And she said, “That is having faith.” One thing I do know is that many times when things have happened, I trusted that everything would work out to my best interest. My mom used to say, “Everything happens for a reason.”
Peter Thompson from the Guardian writes, “Faith is not the same as religion. I would say any movement that seeks social change and improvement is a faith-based one. It has to be, otherwise there would be no reason to hope for something better.”
And Lauren Ebersole from the Humanist writes, “Faith is a concept that connotes religiosity and a term that is monopolized by the religious. If someone says “my faith,” then the god part is implied. It doesn’t require a qualifier. There seems to be an idea that faith in a god somehow makes one stronger or better than those who don’t share that faith. That faith in something you can’t see or can’t know for sure exists takes greater courage. The primary definition of faith, however, is “strong belief or trust in someone or something” and only secondarily does it denote “strong religious feelings or beliefs.” 
I have faith—I just choose to put my faith in people. I have faith that when I’m sad I’ll find comfort in the arms of my mother. I have faith that when I’m confused my father will provide guidance. I have faith that my siblings will always have my back. I have faith in the restorative power of laughter with friends. I have faith in me, that more often than not I’ll make the right decision.
It takes courage to put your faith in people. You can’t always know a person’s motivations, their decision-making processes, or their rationale for their behavior. People are unpredictable, and sometimes faith in them is misplaced. That’s why it’s called faith. And for me, in my life, faith in people beats faith in a god every time.”
My intention is not to discount religion. I do believe there is some higher power that guides me. I call her Xena. Could she be from a past life? I have no idea, but I don’t believe or disbelieve 100% of anything I hear or read. If something “speaks to me” then I take note of that. That is what I mean about knowing things I don’t know. I completely trust my feelings and instincts!
This week’s focus is about having faith. Do you have the courage to believe in something you can’t see or can’t know for sure exists? Do you have faith in yourself to make the right decisions? Do you have family and friends who always have your back?
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