Faith in the Elusive Something

Faith, that elusive something we either have or we don’t, seemingly black or white … but it is not; it comes in fluctuating shades of grey, at least for many of us. If you believe in ‘something’ but are not sure quite what, if you feel something is there but you can’t quite put your finger on what, that is still faith and indeed the more one accepts it and works with it, the stronger that elusive something becomes.

Faith is not about adherence to theological doctrines and dogma but about feelings; feelings about what is right for you, feelings of forgiveness, compassion and love. Faith, then, is an enigma, entirely personal and always uplifting. The more we allow ourselves to connect with the object of our faith, with that ‘something’, by being aware of it as we go about our day, the more we are free; free from judgement, hatred, anger and frustration; free from the burdens of our existence. The more we connect with that ‘something’, the more we are: happier, more fulfilled, more loving.

And as I pen these words that started from a free flow of whatever came to mind, my own awareness of that magical ‘something’ has increased and a beautiful, invasive, soothing energy has filled my veins, leaving me glowing, tranquil and somewhat blissful. Faith, it seems, brings increasing peace of mind, inner contentment and the possibility of real self expression and fulfilment. How do I know? Because I feel it: I feel its energy coursing through me, transforming my whole way of being into something altogether happier and more generous or spirit.

That the faith fits in no particular box of this or that religion is not important. For me, I want my faith unfettered, free to be explored at will in my own time through my own experience, not bound by “shoulds” and “ought to’s”. Faith is like a luxurious tailor-made shoe that, once tried on, I can never imagine wanting to take off as it fits me like a glove and makes that log walk on the journey through life so much more effortless and enjoyable. That I cannot quite describe to you what it is for me, that I sometimes forget it for a while as I go about life, makes it no less “faith” and it gets stronger by the day as I see its impact everywhere in my life.