Introduction to My Faith-Filled Summer

As you might have guessed if you’ve visited this blog before, my husband and I are on a journey together—one that doesn’t often require us to go far from home, since our handicapped son keeps us close to our safe and comfortable nest. Thankfully, I’m widely traveled through the research I enjoy while writing my books. 🙂 But life is a journey nonetheless, because my husband and I love to explore, share, discuss and dissect various things we encounter in and through our outside circles. My writing experiences, his academic, and together, our encounters in church, with family, and in our neighborhood (to name a few).

A favorite topic for us is the reasoning behind our faith. We very much want to understand not only what we believe, but why. Have you ever heard people outside a faith claim those inside a faith adhere blindly, checking their brain at the door of their church? They believe some people find faith simply because they were raised in the culture of a certain religion and they’re just following along like the sheep they are.

It’s interesting to note that such an observation rarely comes from inside faith circles. Few people would claim they have blind faith, although some atheists might accuse anyone with faith of being blind because we believe in a God we cannot see face-to-face. But even those with the most wonderfully secure, even child-like faith have a basic understanding of why they believe and are content with that. I admit there are probably some who attend church for reasons other than faith: they could be agnostic or believe in a creator who isn’t involved in anyone’s life; they could attend church for the community it provides, or because they’re coerced (i.e., their spouse guilts them into attending for the sake of the children, for example). But they probably wouldn’t label themselves as having blind faith.

That’s because, at one point or another, most of us question what we believe. It’s often in relation to a crisis of some sort: death of a loved one, disappointment with life, sickness, a challenge from a teacher or friend or even a national disaster or something in the media that strikes spiritual awareness.

Because like it or not, we are both physical and non-physical beings, whether we believe we were created, have evolved, or some combination of creation and evolution. We are more than just flesh and blood. The knowledge we possess, the love we feel, the morality we accept or reject are all examples of the non-physical part of who we are. Atheists do not accept this as spiritual. They believe the non-tangibles are chemical reactions in the brain and no different from other desires we have, such as food to satisfy our hunger or fatigue demanding we sleep.

But if we desire food and food is there to fulfill that desire, and if we desire rest and the ability to sleep is within us, doesn’t that give us an indication that if a such a timeless and universal desire for a spiritual realm exists, there is likely an answer to that desire? The Bible says God put an awareness of Him in us, because He created us for communion with Him.

Over the course of this summer, I’d like to explore the reasons for my faith, which may pique some discussions within your own family or circle of friends. This is a topic I’ve wanted to put in writing for some time. I admit I my goal isn’t to convert anyone, and it certainly isn’t my intention to offend anyone. I also know that faith can be a profound topic, tackled by people far more learned than I. But sometimes it’s those with a simple faith (though not blind) who can help others define the reasons they’ve chosen to believe.

And that, really, is my goal in any of my writing: for a better understanding of this thing called the human experience.

Come along with me, starting next week!

I’ll also be clearing off my bookshelves this summer, so I’ll be giving away some great Christian fiction. Gently used books that I’ve enjoyed, offered to you at the right price. (Free!) Just sign up for a chance to win, and I’ll ship four Christian fiction books to each contest winner. Might as well have a summer filled with faith and reading!