Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 07.05.2009 (Article Archived on 21.05.2009)

In the days between Easter and Ascension, we hear the stories from the Bible about Jesus walking among his followers on Earth, who have to rely on their faith to believe what they are seeing.

In the days between Easter and Ascension, we hear the stories from the Bible about Jesus walking among his followers on Earth, who have to rely on their faith to believe what they are seeing.  Faith is an interesting concept.  Faith is something we feel, something we accept, often without concrete proof.  But faith can be one of the most powerful forces in our world.

On Saturday the hash found us hiking up the trail on Mountain Red Hill.  Trail is a rather generous term to use.  What starts as a trail at the cairn soon disappears among the boulders, and it’s a matter of finding whatever way you can to the top!  As the quicker folks disappeared over the horizon I stayed with my friends Tony and Catherine, and their children Daniel and Abigail, and little Alex. 

Watching the children navigate their way up the steep slope was a lesson in a few things.  Bravery comes to mind.  Were we ever that young and innocent that we had so little fear?  Or are they just so full of trust that the big people in their lives would never put them in harm’s way?  There were a few moments we weren’t so sure of that!

The biggest lesson was one of faith.  They had faith that we would find the best route and that we would lead them away from hazards.  They even had faith that we would lead them safely to their destination.  It’s probably a good thing that they weren’t aware of the fact that we weren’t really sure of it ourselves at times!

Faith like this is a joy to behold, and an honour to be the recipient of.  When little hands hold onto yours, and little feet get placed right where you show them, you know that these wee people have faith in you.  What a gift, and what a blessing.  It demonstrates that we are born with the ability to have faith.  It is something that comes from our souls. 

And when we place our faith in the right people, we are rewarded greatly.  As youngsters, our faith in our parents helps us to learn how to get on in this big world.  As we grow our circle of faith grows wider as we meet more people, and have more life experiences.

As adults, our faith helps us to accept the presence of something greater than ourselves, whatever we perceive it to be, and whatever we call it.  Faith gives us the power to put our lives in the hands of others, and in God, and know that things will work out they way they should.  Faith keeps the worry from getting the best of us.  Faith is something that comes from deep within us.  Faith in ourselves, faith in those around us, and faith in God.

This week, let’s all take a few moments to reflect on what and in whom we have faith.  If we find our faith is lacking, or has become a little worn, frayed or tattered, let us remember that with faith anything is possible.  Knowing this, who would not want to have faith in their lives?