Society needs something to circle around lest it becomes unmoored. This is a role that I believe faith plays. There is an implicit trust that comes with faith. It allows strangers in a society to communicate with some understanding that there is some solid ground to stand on.

As of late, our society has circled around politics. And the issue with politics is that it is largely expedient. As such, fickle. Coupled with the constant media bombardment, one is bound to think society is on fire. And given the Covid pandemic and the racial tensions, that assessment may not be far off. However, I have always held that if one were to look more locally into their neck of the woods, there is more calm than storm. More calm that allows one to write reflections such as this. Except, perhaps if you happen to live in one of the hot spots of the crisis or are a front line worker. To the former, sorry and to the latter, I salute you.

However, back to the issue at hand. If politics, especially at the national level in an election year, is not what we should be focusing on around the campfire then what should it be. I suggested faith. But I will have to do better than that. I will have to go deeper. And that deeper question is what does faith mean? Given my own experiences, I don't think it is as shallow as believing in God.

So, before I dive into the role that faith can play, it is best to first describe what I mean by faith and I will largely do it by continuing my personal story that I began last week. Personally, I have never been closer to God than when circumstances were going poorly. As such, it may seem that faith is just another variant of self-help when things are going downhill, or at least it may seem that way. And this is the line I want to discuss faith from. I view nothing wrong with the self-help variant of faith.

On a theological level, this may seem like I am dismissing God as nothing but a wish granting factory for when we need help but I think it goes deeper than that. Over the millennia of writings on God or gods, it has become well understood that the timing of God or gods is not the same as that of man. As such, God (or gods) do not succumb to the easy trifles of mice and men. But in fact play on a grander scale that we may not be privy to. What may seem bad at this time and place may in fact be the experience and perspective needed to have more and better in the future. And this is where the deep theology may come in: that as a single individual living a single life, you are not privy to whatever impact your life has or where it may be going. You may plan and do your best to be wise, but you don't know what is coming down the hatch. This brings a certain humility to the human mind. To understand that while you matter, there is a larger game at play. This, I think is the key role faith can play again in our societies, give a true sense of humility to us before we act.

As such, what I am calling for is not a dismissal of action in the here and now. In fact, I think the realm of man should be our key place of action. However, that should not be broached without the true humility that we don't completely understand what we are doing and should be very careful when acting. And that when the proverbial shit hits the fan, we understand that the proper course of action may not be to simply blame and start fights. But to understand that there is a God (or gods) and that there is a greater game at play.

Therefore, beyond its efficacy in helping the individual pick themselves up, faith as seen from this perspective allows for tolerance. For faith without tolerance is bound to become self-righteous and lose the self-awareness that comes with believing in things unseen. As such, this may be the deeper role that believing in God (or gods) may serve as a good centerpiece for society, by instilling a greater sense in the unknown. For although, we cannot discount human action, we can understand that there is much beyond our control and understanding. Knowing that although man has made many advances and is well capable of solving his own problems, God is greater with the universe being a key signifier of that.

Together, self-help and tolerance may be the deep values that circling around faith in God (or gods) can provide a society that seems to be careening out of control. And it can only really exist at the individual level. So, I implore the individual to get in touch with their inner mystic and fathom the immensity of creation and really wonder…what role do I really play in all this? With that, the need for God does not seem far off.

---

Memento Mori. Memento Viva

09. Are there any unforgivable acts? An exploration of justice and mercy.

08. A legacy beyond voting and taxes

07. On making poetry sexy again

05. Brief reflection on losing and finding my Christian Faith

04. On writing, adventures and the search for co-conspirators

See all posts from Poems, stories and musings