I'm in an ethics class at BYU that requires us to read various articles, chapters from many different books, and to write three personal application papers over the semester. These personal application papers require a principle to be applied for one week, with successes and failures documented daily. The paper should be 4-5 pages long. Right, one more thing, the thing that spurned on the writing of this posting: each day we have a reading assignment we are two write a short response to the reading. We write in two blocks on a form: "New insights gained and lessons learned while reading and pondering, or since the last class (e.g., how it applies to your life and what impressed you the most)," and "Questions that I have after reading this assignment or since the last class." I think the second part isn't really intended for rhetorical questions, but I'm okay with that - my deep and burning questions I don't expect a teacher to answer, even if he is a bishop. He's not my bishop, he's my ethics teacher.
My reading today included Acts 3:6-8, wherein Peter heals a lame man at the Temple. "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." As an Elder, a man ordained to the Priesthood of God I hold the same Priesthood as Peter, the same authority to heal. Given this, Peter's faith when he healed the lame man is very striking to me. In honest consideration of myh faith and exercise of the priesthood, much is left to be desired. I must obtain/develop/maintain greater faith if I would be a man like Jesus, who taught Peter to have such great faith. I desire this that I may raise up men and women of great faith unto the Lord as a father. I suppose the question then, is "Chris, how much do you really desire this thing?" I hope the answer I give through my life and actions is "greatly;" my fear is that the answer has been "faintly." I think I have discovered a worthy subject for one of the afore-mentioned personal application papers.
How is (greater) faith obtained? How is faith developed? Can faith be shared? If so, how is it best shared, and to what degree? Is it something best shared by example, as it cannot be truly imparted to another (consider the parable of the 10 virgins)?
And one more question I'll probably discover the answer to in 30-35 years, when our last child grows up and leaves the nest, "How does one best raise children to be men and women of great faith?" I'd better find an answer to this question much sooner that my 50s and 60s.
Now, I'm curious how far Ic an improve on this in 500 days. My 30th birthday is just over that many days away from now. It would be far better to leave BYU with improved faith than just a degree.
I have asked a lot of questions in this posting. Please, feel free to post your answers to any of the questions I have asked, or personal insights that have led toward answers to these questions. Just be gentle - I'm learning too. The answer may seem a bit obvious, and perhaps it is. But don't we all miss what's right in front of us from time to time? Also, the answer may be a bit deeper and involve some consideration. I'd especially love some thoughts along these lines. I will, of course, be trying to answer these questions myself too.
3 comments:
Fath increases by acting on whatever faith we already have. Start where you are at and go forward. The smalest momentum will incress if you keep moving forward and conciously do what is right. Faith is never passive. It is alive and active. A substance by which and mountain may be moved.
Once again, I am moved by your thoughts and words, Chris. My only honest answer is (being in the EXACT same search AT age 54) seek...and you WILL find...or as
I seem for some reason to be hearing a lot these days from those who seem to be more "grown" in faith than I..."when the student is ready...the teacher WILL appear." I have to have FAITH for now that that is in fact, the truth. I do believe in my heart of hearts that God will allow us as much faith as we dare to seek.
In your post re: Patriotism and Respect, I kind of loosely referred to the "dumbing down of America". I should also speak as clearly and as LOUDLY as I can about the QUASHING of faith by very powerful forces in a nation originally BASED in faith... The following poem sent to me says it all too eloquently for me to try and improve on it...
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks..
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
Truths in this satirical poem do at times make the search for faith an even harder quest, don't you think?
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