Faith journey! Part 1. Be empowered for life.
By the Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok
For www.soulfoodministry.org
Welcome to an empowering and energizing Faith Journey! This four part series was originally prepared for the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C., presented five weeks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America. The weekend retreat included an indoor labyrinth experience.
I have been with www.soulfoodministry.org since its beginning in 1998. Internet visitors visit the website from more than 100 countries. While our cultures, countries, primary languages and customs may differ --we share a common bond. We are all on a faith journey in search of the Divine. Gay or straight, young or old, rich or poor, we need loving, holy Presence and spiritual power in our daily lives. Faith helps us tap into strength for the day and brings us hope when life feels chaotic and most difficult.
Each part of this series begins with selected scriptures from the Bible. These are followed with a written prayer, before each spirituality lecture. You will find this Faith Journey resource ideal for personal and community retreats. Expect many blessings. Trust God throughout your faith journey and you will be transformed and encouraged.
Rev. Dr. Sandra L. Bochonok (Revsandyb@aol.com)
January 2, 2002
Scripture
"For we walk (journey) by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 NRSV "For our life is a matter of faith, not of sight." Today’s English Version "For we walk by faith (we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk) not by sight or appearance." Amplified Bible. "For we guide our lives by faith, and not by what we see." TCNT "For we guide ourselves by faith, and not by external appearance." Wey. "For I have to lead my life in faith, without seeing him." Moffet.
Opening prayer
"God, our hearts are open to you. Come sit in our hearts. Amen." (Attributed to the Oprah Winfrey television show).
Welcome
Welcome to a great weekend of spiritual renewal. This is a weekend of stepping stones and breakthroughs to the Holy. We are all pilgrims on a sacred path in search for a healthy faith that energizes, empowers, equips and encourages us along the way. This is a time for becoming stronger in your faith. We are probably all pregnant with holy yearnings eager to be birthed, or we would be elsewhere on a Friday night in our nation’s capital. It is my hope and prayer that all will experience God being closer than our breathing, nearer than our hands and feet, finding blessing empowerment as close as our lips, as near as our fingertips.
Rabbi Nachman of Bratislava reminds us that "Each new beginning requires that you open new doors." This weekend is dedicated to opening new doors in our faith life. Together we will reclaim radically simple spirituality practices enjoyed throughout the centuries. If you can breathe, you will find yourself empowered with inner portable resources that can bring you into transforming moments of spiritual success wherever you go in life and through whatever life brings your way.
Seven words to change your life
So let our journey begin with these seven words that can change our lives. "We journey by faith, not by sight!" These words were written by a first century rabbi, but can be applied to any faith tradition or world religion. It is a wonderful mantra for our faith journey, for we are all pilgrims in search of the divine Mystery. And pilgrimage is a journey to touch holy places and the holy places in our lives, to receive the benefit of God’s mercy and experience the power of community in sacred ritual. It is an inward, upward and yes, an outward journey. As pilgrims, we search for a transformative journey to a sacred center or destination for personal renewal. Sometimes the journey may be to a distant place on the other side of our planet, or it can be as near as our back yards.
These seven words immediately bring us into beloved, spiritual community with forward moving faith through a Power greater than ourselves.
Faith --the best five letter word I know
Faith is the best five-letter word I know. A healthy and dynamic faith provides a foundation for our lives, empowers us with assurance in God for whatever comes our way, inspires us when the going gets tough, helps us experience what is trustworthy in the Sacred, and gives us hope. Faith, hope and love are intertwined and go hand in hand. Faith is a good thing and something we need to live well.
Five excellent spiritual practices for our weekend
I would like to offer five excellent spiritual practices attributed to Confucius to use on our journeys. We’ll be practicing them throughout the weekend. Here they are:
Central idea
Everyone believes in something. And we live our beliefs in action through faith at work, at play and in how we interact with friend and foe, neighbor and family member. Faith is central for our spiritual empowerment. Faith is our lifeline when life is raw, ugly, painful, terrifying, numbing, demoralizing and tragic. Faith brings us into great moments of hope and love. Faith empowers our prayers and helps us rejoice and praise God, expressing profound gratitude with a deep and abiding sense of thankfulness even when our world has turned upside down and inside out. Through faith, we can pray to a Power greater than ourselves. Through faith, we find the Holy One is safe to cry, laugh, rage and rejoice with.
And spiritual Light is generous is each one. Throughout our weekend together, we’ll be uncovering some inner resources from deep within our inner being. These are priceless spiritual resources that money cannot buy and are time tested and true, cherished by people throughout the ages. Through them, we find ourselves becoming "pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world" (attributed to Mother Teresa).
There is a wonderful saying, that "To seek God is the greatest of all adventures; to find God is the greatest of all achievements; to fall in love with God is the Greatest of all Romances." Only God can fill the deepest holes in our hearts. We are made for God and restless until our hearts come home.
Grandma and her false teeth
Sometimes we travel great distances to find faith, only to realize it is already within us. One day my beloved Grandmother could not find her false teeth and asked for my help. We searched the house, looked under beds, in the refrigerator and everywhere you can imagine. Suddenly she began laughing. She laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks, for she had found her teeth. They had been in her mouth the entire time of our search. It was impossible not to laugh.
Here is a picture for us of the Sacred through her lost teeth. God has never left us, although we may have misplaced or forgotten God. God is always with us, even as we frantically search for meaning and fulfillment in our lives. God is eager to be found and is nearer than our hands and feet. And in my Grandmother’s case, closer than her dentures.
And so it is with our faith journey. However you understand the light of God at this present moment, celebrate your light, however dim it might feel. And when we are together, our combined spiritual light is very bright indeed.
Beloved community --not me, myself and I
It is impossible to experience spiritual success while living in isolation. Great spirituality writers of old have noted we need meaningful, affirming community along with profound moments of solitude for a healthy, dynamic, inner life of faith.
This is so important that we will spend everything we have, traveling if necessary to the ends of the earth, to find it. Through my work at www.soulfoodministry.org, I have experienced this personally as modern day pilgrims have come from far off lands such as Australia and Zimbabwe, sitting at my kitchen table for coffee and conversation, asking deeply personal questions in search for answers.
Great people of faith as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Madeline L’Engle, Teresa of Avila and so many others teach us that while God is enough, we still need people in our lives. Few of us are called to live as recluses and hermits. Like it or not, we need intentional spiritual community for balance and wholeness. We need hugs. It is impossible to understand and live the good news of God in isolation. It is very hard if not impossible to remain motivated in our faith alone.
While the saying by Emmett Fox is true, "that one plus God is a majority," the truth is we need people in meaningful relationships for healthy, spiritual lives. There is strength in numbers. Even Jesus cultivated intentional beloved community through meaningful loving families of choice.
Beloved community helps us overcome temptation, change destructive and negative patterns of behavior and thinking, encourages and strengthens us when we are discouraged, and helps us discern God’s call in our lives. It is so important that we will travel around the world to find it. It is where no one is left out and everyone is welcome.
Many faiths -- let respect be our holy word
American is a nation of many faiths. As a people, we need healing faith as we recover from those horrific terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. In those initial days that followed, we saw the best and the worst religions offer. Our nation actually began stronger through faith and did not disintegrate emotionally and spirituality. We discovered our nation had good people of faith from all ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations. And many interfaith and multifaith alliances joined hands and helped our nation mourn and find strength and inner resources. Together we learned God is bigger than we realized, and that God walks with us in the light and in the dark (http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/AmericaAttacked.htm).
Through it all, some people of faith have lost their way, wondering how a good and loving God could have allowed such things. Others who never prayed find themselves waking up in the middle of the night, crying, God, are you there? Can we talk?
The faith elephant
So the question begs asking. What is faith? Faith is supposed to be simple enough for a little child, yet we adults make it so very complicated. We spend our lives searching for what is trustworthy, reliable and true in the Mystery of God. The word, faith, comes from the Latin, fidere, to trust, to confide in.
Trying to describe faith reminds me of an ancient Hindu parable about six blind (visually impaired) men trying to describe their elephant. The one holding the trunk thought it was a snake, the other holding the tail described the elephant as a rope. No, cried the man holding the tusk, it is a large tooth. Another disagreed as he held the ear, for to him was an enormous fan. A huge wall, said yet another while the last man disagreed, saying, you are all wrong. For his arms struggled to hold a moving leg and in his experience, it seemed a moving tree.
We describe faith according to our memories, personal experiences and education. But some of things we were taught need to be unlearned, while other things need to be learned again and again, to develop a faith that energizes, empowers, and equips us.
Jewish scriptures
According to Hebrew scriptures, the first documented faith pilgrim was a man named Abraham. He lived more than 4000 years ago and has a fascinating spiritual profile. Abraham was pregnant with holy longings and discerned a holy calling to leave the safe and familiar to journey to a distant land with his family, his beloved community. His story has a great deal to teach us about journeying by faith, and not by sight.
In the Old Testament, faith is usually expressed by verbs such as "believe," "trust" and "hope." The ancient Psalms quickly reveal that trust in God is essential for living. Faith is an attribute pleasing to the Creator and influences lifestyle. Wisdom is found in trusting in God while foolishness is found by trusting only in ourselves. Faith leads to active obedience and simple trust in God. It is faith in our Creator, the controller of human history that sustains life and provides guidance.
The bottom line is this--only God is truly worthy of our fullest trust. God is our rock, salvation, refuge, deliverer, shield and stronghold. The Old Testament is full of fallible and rather ordinary and sometimes dysfunctional people of great faith, who experienced the grace of God through extraordinary moments.
Greek scriptures
Faith is the heart of Christianity and comes from the Greek verb, pisteuo, which is found more than 240 times in the New Testament. People are urged to have faith, keep the faith, pursue faith, while asking for more faith in God through Jesus Christ.
The New Testament teaches us we are saved by faith, not by works. Faith is a Mystery, not a therapy, and the only way to salvation. This faith is available to "whosoever," "all," "anyone" and "everyone." It is more than being concerned with facts versus feelings. Saving faith is more than a one-time statement of intellectual or emotional faith. It is a continuous ongoing intimate, deeply personal and loving relationship with the living Christ.
Sometimes we hear people speak of "The Faith," referring to the whole body of Christian teachings and great Creeds of faith (Apostle’s and Nicene) established over the centuries. Sometimes well-intentioned homophobic people of faith have used these teachings to exclude or even excommunicate gay, lesbian, and bisexual and transgendered people in the past.
But here we are-- a growing, global, inclusive voice of faith that includes and celebrates seekers and pilgrims of all sexual orientations in dozens of countries. So keep the faith and keep looking up! Be encouraged, not discouraged and remember change takes time. We are the twenty-first century people in Hebrews 11, living by faith, holding on to the promises of God. And some of us may or may not see those promises fulfilled in our lifetime, just as the people in Hebrews.
For Paul, the author of our seven sacred words for the weekend (2 Corinthians 5:7), faith is a response to God’s word through Jesus Christ, who makes faith possible. Before Paul met Jesus in a personal and dramatic way on the Damascus road, he was a religious hate crime perpetrator. He was a zealous Jewish Orthodox religious leader who hunted down people of the Jesus way without mercy. Numerous people suffered and died as a result of his misplaced faith and holy zeal. Then he experienced the Holy in a dramatic way that changed his life forever, and became a dedicated and tireless follower of Jesus.
And Jesus teaches we need faith for new life in God. Faith moves mountains, heals the sick, motivates people to bring a bit of heaven on earth and is the medium by which the power of God is made visible in our lives. Faith comes from hearing sacred words and his non-homophobic words have encouraged people since the first century to live better lives with God-power.
By faith -- we walk the talk and walk the talk (Hebrews and James)
The anonymous author of the book of Hebrews writes, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible."
Hebrews chapter 11 offers us many great insights through a litany of a great hall of fame of faithful people throughout history. These faith-full ones clearly understood it is impossible to please God without faith. And they lived their lives by faith in the promises of God, even though the overwhelming majority never received the promises during their lifetime. God honored their faith, as God honors ours today. Truly, a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us.
Faith is very practical throughout various scriptures. The book of James reminds us that a faith in God without deeds and actions is a dead faith. In other words, we are to walk the talk!
Blind faith through the eyes of faith
Over the past few years, I have made friends with a man who used to journey by sight, not by faith. Then one day he became blind. He now journeys by faith, not by sight, as he lives and works in a world of darkness. He has a highly trained guide dog and volunteers with a local training program for the blind. I marvel at the sight of him and his blind friends and colleagues as they walk through busy city streets by faith, not by sight. Sometimes they walk so quickly, that I physically struggle to keep up with them.
They’ve taught me about living with blind faith. Blind faith involves listening and learning with our entire God given senses. Blind faith requires alertness, attentiveness and practice. Blind faith requires skills that must be studied, learned and continually improved for successful living and reaching our fullest human potential. And blind faith, when practiced with wisdom and discernment, is not a foolish, reckless or stupid faith.
While preparing for this weekend, I heard a wonderful story of faith about a blind man and his guide dog during the WTC terrorist attacks. They were high in the sky when the plane hit their building. Many people were giving up hope as they descended down the seventy-plus flights of stairs. The blind man kept saying, ‘Look at me! I can’t see but I’m not giving up!’ And with his encouragement, many were able to escape with their lives.
Now, everyone here has a life of faith and a relationship with the Holy whether we realize it or not. There is great wisdom and experience in this gathering. So as our weekend continues, get to know each other. Share your own stories of faith and hope. And like the blind man in the WTC building, perhaps others will be helped through your faith experiences and you too, will save a life.
Summary
Journey by faith in beloved community, and you will be empowered for life! And in closing, here is one question for your prayers and meditations tonight to help focus for tomorrow. What does it mean for you personally to journey by faith in beloved community?
Friendship blessing--benediction
"May you be blessed with good friends. May you learn to be a good friend to yourself. May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness. May this change you. May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you. May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging. May you treasure your friends. May you be good to them and may you be there for them; may they bring you all the blessings, challenges, truth and light that you need for your journey. May you never be isolated…" (Page 36 from Anam Cara. A Book of Celtic Wisdom, by John O’Donohue)
A quick word about the labyrinth
A word about the labyrinth about to be laid immediately following this service: "For many, the labyrinth has become a Grail, meaning that it meets people where they are and gives them what they need for spiritual transformation." (Rev. Dr. Lauren Atress, www.gracecathedral.org)
So if you wish to walk the labyrinth tonight, please do so. We ask that you remove your shoes and walk in your socks or with bare feet to keep the canvas clean, unless of course, you need to keep your shoes on for medical reasons or to keep your balance. For tomorrow, wear comfy cloths and soft socks for walking the labyrinth. Consider a sketchpad or paper for journal writing. Be open to what the labyrinth can bring, whether you watch and wonder or walk and wonder. Be open to what the day brings.
For more information on the labyrinth, there are 30 meditations on Labyrinth Love and Wisdom posted at http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/30DayLabyrinth.htm.
Continue to Faith Journey Part 2