Faith? - or: Being a Good Dog

A break in my opinion on the Soul of the Church.

I started this blog as a way of "working out my faith."  I would love to say that I have done it.  Nothing would make me happier than to be able to say that all my doubts are gone and I have faith.  But I can't say that.

But does that really matter?  I mean really, do I have the makeup to come to a point in my life that I will unequivocally know that there is a God?   As is keeping with my personality - I doubt it.  But I have come to a decision.  I have had an epiphany - of sorts.

When I first got Linus (see above) he was really still just a puppy.  For a few weeks we trained him - and I mean dilligently; but somehow he still exhibited some less-than-ideal behaviors.  Then we started taking him to the dog park.  It was amazing to watch him grow and mature in short order!  In no time, by hanging out with other, well-trained dogs, Linus began to come when called, sit on command (even with other dogs bugging him), and some other lesser good-dog behaviors!  I don't know how it happens, I am certainly no Dog Whisperer, but I know this - Linus emulated the actions of those "good dogs," and in-turn improved himself!

Ok, have I confused dog with god?  No.  It's like this:  I do not like not believing in God.  I don't know if I will ever believe 100%, but I have made the decision to proceed as if there is a God.  If I were to get into a debate with myself, or you for that matter, I could argue either side.  But I have no more proof that there is no God, than I do that there is.  I choose to agree that there just might be a God after all.

How did I come to this?  I dunno.

Probably this greatest influence over the past several weeks has been the sermons, emails and a couple conversations with Abby Norton-Levering.  The best part was that she didn't try to convince me, or "sell" me on God.  She spoke what was already planned in church, gave a few short answers to some (non)rhetorical questions, and during our conversations, essentially listened to me ramble on.  Right person at the right place at the right time?

The one thing that Abby said that kind of stuck in my craw and left me thinking (a lot) was that even though Abraham and Sarah doubted that God would give them a child at their advanced ages, they must have believed just enough at least once (think about it, wait for it, ah, there it is).  Sometimes the simplest things...

I always thought that the "faith of a child" was a simple faith, an unquestioning, blind faith.  But then I thought about my two children and even my own childhood.  What's the primary thing a child does (careful now)?  They ask, "why?"  To everything.  A child's faith is not a simple, blind faith at all.  But it is a faith that asks questions, then they try to understand, then they emulate those around them.

I will most likely always ask why.  I may never be completely sold.  But I choose to emulate those whom I respect.  I choose to take a step and believe, at least once.  Like Linus I will copy the other dogs and see if I end up with some "good dog" behaviors.  Maybe that's what faith is after all?

Thanks Abby!