Do you consider yourself a person of faith? I’m not talking about organized religion, but rather about choosing to trust in a positive outcome no matter how dark things seem in the present moment. Today, I wrap up my May Simple Living Sunday tribute to qualities I admire in my mum with a look at how keeping the faith can see us through the most difficult of times.

Faith gives you an inner strength and a sense of balance and perspective in life.

Gregory Peck

Three simple pleasures and highlights

Continuing my practice of celebrating the simple things in life, here are three simple pleasures and highlights of the last week.

• Monday was a holiday here in Canada. On Monday, I went for a walk on a local hiking trail with my husband and daughter. It was good to get out and I ended the day with 18,000 steps.
• My boss was in town from Montreal so I went out for dinner with him and one of my co-workers on Tuesday. It was the first time I have seen him in over two years, and it felt so good to catch up.
• Something else I haven’t done since before the pandemic is go out for after-work drinks with co-workers. That’s what I did on Wednesday. It feels good to do “normal” things again. 

This week’s simple living focus: Keeping the faith

Many people reject faith because they associate it with organized religion and belief in God or a higher power. But it is possible to have faith without religious beliefs. The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers several alternative definitions of faith including “a firm belief in something for which there is no proof” and “something that is believed especially with strong conviction.”

Raised Roman Catholic, my mum is part of a generation that never questioned their religious beliefs or faith in God. In difficult times, prayer is the thing that brings her comfort and keeps her going.

I admire that unwavering and unquestioning faith, but I admit it’s something I have struggled with in my lifetime. I’ve asked many times why an all-loving God allows suffering and evil. These questions and doubts came to mind again this week in light of the horrific school shooting in Texas. I’m still waiting for an answer that satisfies me.

Faith trumps fear

Yet, during the most difficult time of my life following my cancer diagnosis, faith was the thing that gave me comfort. I had to put my fears aside and have faith in a positive outcome, even though there was no hard proof that it would happen.

For me, keeping the faith came in the form of prayer and spending time in the chapel at our church. For others, it may involve meditation or positive affirmations. No matter which form it takes, people of faith believe that everything will work out for the best.

Faith and fear make poor bedfellows. Where one is found, the other cannot exist.

Napoleon Hill

The age of skepticism

In the age of information overload, skepticism abounds. Conspiracy theories aren’t new but the pandemic has highlighted that, even in the face of scientific facts and proof, many people have no faith in governments and their fellow human beings. I’ve watched as that lack of faith and trust spiralled into anger, negativity, and even hatred and violence. It makes me sad.  

Ultimately, faith is about looking outside of yourself and choosing to trust others and believe in a positive outcome. If we could recapture that, the world would be a better place.  

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Three things to do this week

It’s a personal thing but, no matter what you believe, taking time for reflection can help you grow your faith. Here are some ideas to get started.

Write down what you believe

Grab a piece of paper and write down 5 things you firmly believe to be true. Do you believe the Earth is square? Write that down. Do you believe that people are inherently good or evil? Write that down, too.

Ask yourself why

Next, look at each of the things on your list and ask yourself why you believe them. Do you have hard facts to prove them? Did someone else tell you they were true? Does believing give you peace or comfort?

Take a leap of faith

This week, decide to overcome the skepticism and negativity in the world by taking a leap of faith. When you hear something that doesn’t make sense to you, pause for a minute. Ask yourself what’s the worst thing that could happen if you choose to believe this. Ask yourself if it’s worth your time and energy to prove it wrong.

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Keeping the faith is tough. Most of the issues we’re faced with don’t come with an obvious right or wrong answer. But sometimes, taking a leap of faith and believing that everything will work out for the best, can provide a sense of peace and harmony. And it’s hard to argue against that.  

Do you consider yourself a person of faith? Tell me your thoughts below.