Faith Shaped Hole

It seems to me, based on my countless conversations with others, that we all seem to have the same hole shaped longing for fulfillment within ourselves. The kind of longing that is shaped perfectly like Faith, Hope and Love. The problem is, this hole I speak of, and the three corresponding virtues, are invisible and can not be seen by the eyes. So, where do we go from there? What is this longing and where does it come from? Today I ponder Faith.

All of my life I have relied on Faith, I’ve never questioned this knowing, only clung to it. I don’t necessarily think it is something that my parents pounded into my head, for I remember going to church and soaking it in when my parents didn’t go. All that said, in no way do I believe that I know more than others or believe that my faith enables me to judge others for their non faith. In fact, it does the opposite. It cause me to really ponder what faith is, where it comes from, and what it fulfills within in my soul.

I believe that it is that hole within ourselves, that longing for fulfillment, that causes us all to ponder what we believe to be true about our spirituality. For some, they decide that there is no God, nothing to believe in. For others, skepticism in turn causes a not knowing that permeates into an unbelief of sorts, a person who claims neither faith or disbelief. And then there are those who believe that the only thing that is truly real, is that which is unseen. Those that know that the hole in their heart is really just a longing for Faith in their Creator. A Faith that makes sense of this seemingly out of control existence. This existence that seems to make us wail with sadness and weep with joy in the same year, or even hour.  For me, I know that I fit into this category. I know that I am not in control of this existence, and I also know, without fail, that this existence is much bigger than we will ever know while on this earth and much bigger than we are.

This world is short, fast and then it’s finished. For me, I know that’s not it, it’s not game over. For I believe that what we do in this world really does matter and once it’s over, that is when it truly begins. I feel that this hole in my heart, this longing to be fulfilled, is a longing that is there to help me fulfill a bigger purpose. We are part of a bigger picture and it is our responsibility to figure that out.

I have heard many people express to me over the years that, to them, they don't believe in God but only believe what matters is that they are kind to others and that they treat others well, faith is irrelevant. As, yes, I too strongly believe that it does matter how we treat others, I also believe what matters is that behind that kindness lies a Faith that is unfaltering, a Faith that will guide you even in the darkest of nights. I believe that Faith in the unseen, and Love from our Creator, is what gives you the capacity to truly be kind from a place of child like innocence.

Let me explain.

I feel that this world is a dark and hard place. It is filled with letdowns and sadness, times of crushing pain that literally bring you to your knees. I believe that this can break you to your core, bring out colors of yourself that you never knew were there. These times will rock your thinking on everything you have ever felt was real. It is during those times that you truly realize how important it is to have an understanding of that spiritual hole within yourself. 

I believe that if you have chosen to fulfill the spiritual hole we all have with only a commitment to being kind to others, in the end, that kindness may one day fade into resentment. For I believe that honest and unfaltering kindness comes from a Loving light of God. Kindness is the works of Faith. I believe that we all have a purpose, a reason we are here and we all have the capacity to understand it if we let God lead us and listen to our inner light. Through death, heartache, letdowns and pain, this world will test our souls and cause us to question what we know to be true. We are human and we can not do it on our strength alone. The hole is longing to be filled with light and with truth, it is our free will and our responsibility to search for it.

Therefore, to me, all I know to be true is that of which my eyes do not see. This blind Faith is what will lead me in the darkness and give me strength to always be kind, even when life is not fair or others are not kind to me in return.

In the end, as I ponder my Faith and what that means, I think about the fact that there are so many religions and people that hinder the name of Jesus and what Faith really means. I believe that what matters is that God is Love and God gives us Hope which fills us with Faith.  I believe that Faith, Hope and Love are the fillers for our hearts and what we are all longing for. These three make us able to live deeper, make sense of the unthinkable, and ultimately make it through this life and into the next while fulfilling our unique purpose on the earth. It is through these virtues that we can honestly give kindness and compassion to those around us. These virtues will lead us when we can’t see and change our hearts into people that Love without fail and look forward when all we want to do is look back.