Faith

Over the course of many years I have seen pictures and images with the word "faith" and every time I look at one, I always take some time to contemplate what that words means to me.   If you look up the word in a dictionary, one of the definitions is: belief that is not based on proof.  Since I am a person of strong faith and have been since I was a child, I also think about how it has transformed me over the years.  In my life, my faith was taught to me by my grandmother and reinforced via my mother as well, as it has provided me with a road map of sorts for navigating the unpredictable curves that come at you unexpectedly at times.  When I remember my first experiences with my religious Catholic faith during my formative years, my recollections of it were tied to a particular need that I had and how I could achieve that which felt far beyond what I could do in my human capacity.  I specifically remember praying about an exam in elementary school and although I had done my homework I did not feel confident about the outcome, so I remember how my faith was exercised during the course of that experience. What I have learned over the years is that I began shifting my faith from a place where it was tied to a need, to a more constant inner meditative state that focuses primarily on how grateful I am for what is currently in my life.  This is not to say that I don't have needs, however, my first thoughts now are to think about those individuals that have much more dire circumstances that don't even come close to my own situation.  I have strong faith that greater things will be manifested in my near future and it all comes from a place of strong belief in the good that is part of my life on an ongoing basis.  Considering the alternative which can be connecting ongoing demands that are never ending, which overshadow those particular things that are in fact adding prosperity and abundance to your existence, I choose to begin my day each day from a place of simple gratitude.  I also love the fact that I know that there is a much greater majestic power behind all things above all humanity, whom I know as God, that is orchestrating how every piece fits together on a map that we are not privy to viewing prior to its revelation to us.  Therefore, our strength in our conviction is what guides us in knowing that we are to pay attention to things that help elevate our thinking and act accordingly towards others as well.  I know that it may be a common perception that those with problems in their lives are the ones that need faith the most, in order to overcome their situation.  Yet, I have believed for quite some time that when you don't have issues or problems is also when one you are very connected to this great truth, as you can be grateful for being in that state while praying for the others that need additional strength and support.  With our world in its current existence, I believe it is the perfect opportunity to focus on why faith is so needed, so that we can have piece of mind in knowing that good will ultimately overcome all things and overshadow the darkness that may exist.   Regardless of what your convictions are, I hope that you can agree to the possibility that can be realized if we all were to share our good thoughts, meditations and prayers for one another to help elevate those that need it, while sending even more of those to the many that are most in need. I have deep faith in that we can still do much good on this earth and as part of our legacy to those that will come after us, I will continue to focus on doing good regardless of what other's actions are.  I also embrace all of the good hopes, dreams and prayers that we all have, as I look forward to all of them being answered, so that we can become yet another shining example what mankind is truly capable of through the strength found in people's devout faith.