Happy August, Beloved:

I get the feeling that some of us are struggling a bit with our faith. Might that include you? If so, I have great news. Welcome to the CLUB! You are A-OK!

There’s a great story from the ninth chapter of Mark, where a Dad asks Jesus for help for his child. It seems the child is possessed with a demon, and the effects are just awful.

The Disciples tried to get rid of the unwanted guest, with no luck. Jesus suggests that the problem is a lack of belief on the part of the disciples. He asks the dad if he believes, and the dad replies: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!!!!”

That’s where so many of us are. We believe, but we’re just not sure quite what it is we believe in!!! We need to remember that faith is a journey, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and lots of bumps in the road.

Sometimes, when life and the world are so hard, it’s not easy for us to feel that God is involved, and not only involved, but intimately, lovingly, effectively involved. No wonder that some of the early American philosophers thought that God is like a great toymaker, who wound up the universe like a top, and let us go. They thought that, while God might watch with curiosity, God would not interfere with the trajectory we’re on.

I’m convinced that God is indeed in charge, and in a most loving way. I’m also convinced that the crud we deal with in life is the price we pay for freedom, and so that we will reach out to each other, and to God.

So, if your faith wavers once in a while, don’t let that get you down. It is your soul seeking a deeper, better connection with God.

My beloved Pastor, Ed Hunt, used to tell me of a prayer partner he had from far away. Every once in a while, that partner would call and say: “Hey Ed, what are we believing today?”

Faith is a day to day, moment to moment journey, and I’m always happy to visit with you along the road.

God does love you. Me too!