STEPS IN THE JOURNEY

TODAY: Spend a few moments reflecting on the life of Mother Teresa, who set a wonderful example of turning her life and trust over to God. She had a simple message when she accepted her Nobel Prize in 1997: “Let us meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love. Once we begin to love each other, we want to do something.”

In short, the verses in today’s scripture say we will be made right in God’s eyes through belief in Jesus Christ. On one hand, this sounds so simple. Why then is faith so hard? We are just asked to believe in someone we can’t “see,” in beliefs that may not always seem “logical” to us, and to recognize our own weaknesses and dependence on a greater being. Many of these steps are the antithesis of what our secular culture values.

Discovering, developing and understanding my faith is a great personal journey. On one hand, I realize how far I have traveled; on another, I see how far I have to go, especially in sharing my faith with those who don’t believe. What would I say? Would it be wrong?

I recently shared my thoughts on faith with a long-time friend who does not believe. Before this discussion, we would always dance around the topics and issues of faith. We had some thoughtful discussions, and any fears and hesitations on my part were unfounded. My friend still doesn’t believe, and she may never, but I learned the importance of giving the moment over to God and to just trust in Him … another step in the journey.

— Cathy Burton

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist