|
Faith means a lot of things to a lot of people and faith is what keeps me
from becoming disheartened whenever the message I am waiting for isn't
readily available. I read something once that has remained with me over the
years - a constant reminder of our need for faith and determination. I would
like to share this little story as a reminder for anyone else who cares to
use it.
An old man and a young lad were sitting in the park one day enjoying the
sunshine and fresh air. The younger of the two noticed that his grandfather
chuckled silently every time one of the squirrels above them dove from one
tree to the next. He finally asked the old man what he found so humorous.
His reply? "Faith is a wonderful thing my child. Faith is what allows these
squirrels to jump from one limb to the next in their quest for food and play.
Without faith and determination, they would remain in one tree for their
lifetime. What a poor existence that would be." The question? Are you
going to remain in one tree or allow your faith to move you forward and into
the right direction?
God's silence is not necessarily a negative response. He speaks to us at
will - His will, not our own. Our faith must assure us that God the Father
listens to our every word, and no word is ever forgotten. He would not
condemn us to a lifetime in one tree! He is our Father, yes, but he is also
our Best Friend. Would your best friend on Earth ever intentionally ignore
you? No, and neither does the Father. He hears our pleas, our thanksgiving,
our joy and our despair - and he remembers all. If the Father knows the
count of every living creature, the number of hairs on our head, our mere
thoughts on a daily basis - surely you must believe and have faith in the
fact that he does listen - and he will respond.
Patience is a virtue. How many times in our lifetime have we heard this
said? Yet, I will be the first to admit that patience is a hard trait for me
to use easily. That is when I must rely on other areas (faith and belief) in
order to remain strong. The Father hears all and will answer. My faith
convinces me of that.
In addition to faith in the Father, I believe we must have the peace of mind
and openness of heart to continue our daily routines, blessing and thanking
Him for all the things that have been accomplished in our lives. No matter
what may be left unanswered for the moment, there are hundreds, no -
thousands, of things to be thankful for. Our mere existence, the sight and
sound of those squirrels having faith and bounding from tree to tree, our
health, our hearts, our families and friends who enrich our lives so. So,
the next time you are left wondering if God is listening remember this short
story of faith. Also remember that our Father has blessed us with many
things - as surely as he will bless us again, and just as surely as he will
answer our prayers.
|
Encountering the Depths : Prayer, Solitude, and Contemplation Mother Mary Clare
Also In This Issue:
|