have a little faith
I have just finished reading a true story….have a little faith. It is written by Mitch Albom, a used to be every Sabbath day attendee at the local Jewish synagogue. Long after Mitch has left his ‘regular attendance’ at the synagogue, Mitch bumps into his rabbi, who asks him this question, “Will you do my eulogy?” have a little faith follows the incredible faith journey of Mitch Albom, a reawakening of his faith that has been dormant for a long time.
You will meet his rabbi or Reb who loved to smile, avoided anger, and was never haunted by “Why am I here?” He knew why he was here he said, to give to others, to celebrate God and to enjoy and honor the world he was put in. His morning prayers began with, “Thank you, Lord, for returning my soul to me.” When you start that way, the rest of the day is a bonus.
The Reb talks about the importance of faith. He writes, “It is a rope for us all to grab, up and down the mountain. I may not be remembered in so many years. But what I have believed and have taught-about God-about our tradition-that can go on. It comes from my parents, and their parents before them. And if it stretches to my grandchildren and to their grandchildren, then we are all, you know……connected.” If we wander away from faith, we can touch everything and be connected to nothing.
The Reb talks about commitment. ‘Commitment’ he says, has lost its meaning. I’m old enough to remember when it used to be a positive. A committed person was someone to be admired. He/she was loyal and steady. Now a commitment is something you avoid. He calls it ‘The Great Tradition of Running Away.” You don’t want to tie yourself down.” It’s the same with faith. We don’t want to commit to God. We’ll take him when we need Him, or when things are going good. But real commitment? That requires staying power-in faith and in marriage. Mitch asks, “What if you don’t commit?” “Your choice.” answers the Reb. “But you miss what’s on the other side……a happiness you cannot find alone.”
You will also meet Henry, a troubled child, a delinquent teen, a bad man….a saved soul. Henry is the pastor of ‘I Am My Brother’s Keeper’ at the local community church. “The sanctuary is a spectacular old room, with massive high ceilings, a large mahogany pulpit, a towering pipe organ, and an upper balcony of pews. It is also rotting away. Paint peels everywhere, the plaster is cracking, floorboards have deteriorated, and the carpet has dips that could twist your ankle.” Oh, and a hole, a huge hole, in the ceiling, maybe 10 feet long. “That’s a big problem,” Pastor Henry admits. “Especially when it rains.” At ‘I Am My Brother’s Keeper, “there are no dues, no drives, no singles nights. Membership grows the old-fashioned way: a desperate need for God”. Mitch is not accustomed to this type of faith, broken down, makeshift.
The hole in the roof symbolizes the storms that rattle our own faith journey. The storms could be our children, parents, colleagues, grandparents, friends, a merger.
“have a little faith”….a modern day ‘Mustard Seed Parable’? It’s about the kind of faith that can move mountains and mergers. “have a little faith”…..a recommended read.
Mom
