"WHAT IN YOUR FAITH INSPIRES PEACE AND HOPE?" A Christian perspective

shared by Rev. Charles Edward, OLW, Deacon

"WHAT IN YOUR FAITH INSPIRES PEACE AND HOPE?"

This is a very loaded question. Just as we are all connected by our humanity and our one breath, so too are we all connected.  All humanity longs for something. Be it affirmation, acceptance,  love and a desire to be made whole.

The vehicle that  inspires me the most on this journey is that of prayer and community.  To some it may sound a little bit odd that I am not focusing of Jesus.  But the true essence of Christianity  is to be in relationship with the Infinite / God.  Pure Love.

To me that is revealed in the gift of His Son.  Fully human and full divine.  In the humanity of Jesus, we see that he is always longing for a relationship with His Father.  Relationship is being in conversation with one and other which less to community.  That is  what prayer is.  The examples of those individuals in Scripture hold for my a sign for a deeper relationship with the Infinite.

This longing is not self contained.  It is contagious.   It moves me to a wide way of living out my humanity.  The is why community is so important.

Jesus NEVER JUDGED ANYONE.  He is the perfect reflection of PURE LOVE which we all long for.  That realty gives me a Peace that this culture cannot give me.

We all live life in the ordinary.  The very fact that we are here shows that we are all on a journey but have  various paths. One is not above the other. Just a different observation leading to living "life to the fullest".  Nothing more nothing less.

That  is the core of the teaching of Jesus.   "Love the Lord your  God and your neighbor as yourself." Culture tells us that we are our own person. But in reality we are communal people. 

Community to me is where my hope lies.  It is here that hope is created.  Being able to see the diversity in each of us.  Thank God that he did not have a cookies cutter.  Our lives would be very boring.   But the key question that I pose is this  " Are we willing to be really be open to that reality?"  It's taking a risk of either being accepted or rejected. 

So are you and I willing to take that risk?   I say "YES" that's the reason for our being here. 

{On Jan 24th, Brother Charles Edward was a participant in an Interfaith Forum, held at St. Paul's 

Church (see picture above).  These are some of  his thoughts around the topic "What in your faith 

inspires peace and hope?", told from a Christian perspective}