Sunday, September 10, 2006

True Faith


In all my past experiences I feel I have had either ignorance to the importance of my decision or an obvious witness to the correct path. I have had a great guidance that has lead me to where I am today. In truth, I have rarely had to exercise faith and thus far have lead a privileged existence.

Although I am able to attribute my general positive discourse and outgoing attitude to this, it has not exactly prepared me for what lies ahead. There is still a great distance in what I actually do compared to what I know I should do. These next few years are going to decide many joys and sorrows I will experience throughout my life. I have been able to get a taste of what true joy is and for the first time feel like it’s not down some distance road but right in front of me.

At times, I wish I could lose this awareness and go back to my youthful carefree approach to life. I realize this struggle that I am going through right now is my very purpose and my trials however simple have adequately prepared me for this next test. I guess the real question is do I have enough faith to close this distance that lies in me?

I have one life and one chance to make it count for something . . . I'm free to choose what that something is, and the something I've chosen is my faith. Now, my faith goes beyond theology and religion and requires considerable work and effort. My faith demands -- this is not optional -- my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. - Jimmy Carter