Crises of Faith

Most people have a lack of faith in the face of dominant self-centeredness. It is a controlling factor in most of our lives. We give attention to our needs over the needs of others. We are interested in satisfying our hungers and desires over those of others. We are interested in the things we focus upon, whether or not it is helpful to anyone else.
In some measure “self worship” is the greatest idolatry of our time. Perhaps behind the deep need to persuade others to adopt our point of view is the desire not only to be right, but to be approved by those with whom we share company. We want more than acceptance, more than approval, we want others to think like we do… because we have the corner on what we need and want focused upon so well.
At the same time we share this healthy sense of self that allows us to discern in some measure the value we place on any number of relationships based upon what we understand as their worth…to us…from our self-centered point of view. Interestingly,
some unique capacities appear to propagate attitudes of compassion, empathy, understanding and love. When we are the recipients of affirmation and genuine unqualified love, we are changed by it. When we discover in persons their trustworthiness, our own sense of trust grows. When we find others willing to help us, we discover the ability to receive graciously and likewise to understand grace.
For any of us to move past ourselves to a level and quality of life that supports relationships of friendship, trust, and committed love, it requires the discover of those capacities in the lives of others who not only model them, but teach us to comprehend the value of such immeasurable, but vital qualities.
When God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to model the highest qualities of human experience and to exercise his love toward all of humanity with redemptive intervention on our behalf, he enabled our capacities to comprehend that love. We are still learning, but that is the struggle of moving past ourselves to see the purpose for which we were created. God has something important for us all to comprehend…his love. When we do, we share it gladly in the knowledge that it won’t run out or run away. God’s love brings life…full and good and eternal.