What is Faith?

Wow – big topic!

Am I brave writing a post on it – or maybe a tad naive?

Whatever – I believe it’s truly important so I’ll give it a go.

FAITH – obviously has very different connotations individually and culturally.

But does faith necessarily mean it’s connected to a religion, movement, sect, cult philosophy etc?

No – I don’t believe it is. Perhaps all faiths stem from ancient religious practices but that doesn’t mean a more ‘modern’ approach to faith isn’t possible.

I grew up under the C of E banner, going to Sunday School as a kid, then onto Church services each week – and I loved it! I loved the bluestone building, the deep red carpeting, the old timber pews, the subtle lighting and I loved the ceremonious organisation of the services. I enjoyed the Minister’s sermons and I became a singer in the Choir and at times, a soloist and I adored the magnificent organ music and singing the hymns, psalms and chants.

As a child and young adult, I had no idea what true faith was.  No-one told me or forced me to go to church, I went of my own free will because I loved the peace and happiness of the church environment. I would walk home filled with joy, noticing all the lovely old homes and lush gardens while stopping to say hi to neighbours and their dogs and cats on a peaceful country morning.

Doesn’t that sound idyllic – and that special part of my week absolutely was.

These days my faith is about trusting in a power greater than my mere human form and believing that somehow I’m being guided and taken good care of.  When I quieten my mind in meditation I deeply feel my connection to that ‘higher power’ and it is infinitely blissful, calming and loving.

I believe if we don’t have some sort of faith that everything will be ok, we open ourselves up to a chaotic mind and much suffering.  Having faith doesn’t mean you sit around doing nothing while hoping you’ll be taken care of, but it means to develop trust in your inner guidance, your higher power, God, the universe, source, Buddha, etc (apologies to those I haven’t mentioned) – whatever feels right for you to lead you confidently on the path of joy and happiness as you follow your life’s passions, dreams and aims and help others with kindness along the way.

We all need the help and loving kindness of others as we navigate the challenges of being human, but tapping into that magnificent source energy, there’s no judgement, no harshness, no punishment, no stress, no condemnation (how did we humans become so good at that!?), just pure unconditional love, total peace and nurturing kindness.

Take time every day to marvel at nature – the sun, the moon, the sky, the sea, the trees, the birds, the animals and how amazing it is that we’re alive on this great big ball out there in the universe!

Practice daily meditations, tune in to your higher power, make kind, loving choices and Every Day Gets Better. 😀❤️

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Faith – feel free to add and share your comments below. ❤️