by Jeffrey G. Hoham
Faith is the operating principle of life. (I didn't always believe that, or maybe I simply didn't understand.) Just consider the many ways that faith must be effectual in our lives. It develops into various shapes and forms, and feeds our inner-self with the deep passionate desire to accept.
Faith can mean many different things to so many different people, that it can be confusing to the "non-believer." We tend to want to have an explanation for almost everything we encounter in this world. We want to analyze, criticize, scrutinize, and categorize nearly everything that we come in contact with. In hope of finding solutions to our problems, we base our judgments of others through our own assumptions, insecurities, and rationalizations.
As people who spend most of our lives trying to provide logical answers to questions, we have a very difficult time learning what it means to have "faith," until we come to the realization that there are many things in our lives that we have no control over. How often do we only focus on the other person in our life, and forget about our role in the relationship? Just think about the amount of anger, frustration, denial, and pain that we build up inside when we live in conflict with ourselves. All too often this is the repeated cycle without an end.
Over the past several years I had lost track of my faith. My career in education and athletics had provided me with more than my share of success. However there was an emptiness, a void, left untouched deep inside of me. But, as only one who "believes" can truly understand, many important events began to occur in my life.
It was over a year ago that a colleague of mine pulled me aside one day and explained to me that he could "see it in my eyes." I responded in disbelief, and asked him what he meant. He simply replied, "You are searching for answers to things that you have no control over." I didn't realize it right away, but over the next few days I came to realize that this colleague and friend had become the messenger of faith that I was missing.
As time passed by and I began to internalize his words, I learned that what I had been doing for most of my life was just talking about what I believed, rather than expressing it in the way I live. An "awakening" of sorts had occurred, and it was then that I began the learning process. I had to rediscover, to reach inside of myself, and find my heart in order to understand what I was in "search" of.
As a motivator to my student/athletes I told them this past fall to "find their hearts," and to have faith in themselves as well as each other as they prepared to compete in the state tournament. They responded with one of their most emotional and stirring performances of the season. Even the casual observer could see that they had complete confidence in their mission. As their coach, I had never felt more relaxed and at peace with myself. I had discovered a "genuine faith," and it showed. My "messenger" reminded me that the quality of any relationship is determined by faith and trust. The importance of my believing and trusting in not only myself, but the significant others in my life as well, was an inner revelation for me. My journey had begun.
There is no concept that looms larger in life than faith because what we believe determines how we live. But for this to happen we must remove the barriers that we have constructed throughout our lives. Anger, fear, and resentment are often obstacles standing in the way of accomplishing our will. Faith can remove these barriers. Faith teaches us to forgive, not only ourselves, but others as well.
To forgive doesn't mean to pardon, it means to let go. You do this not only for the other person, but you do this for yourself -- for your peace of mind and for the quality of your future relationships. When you "let go" of the hurt, and replace it with "faith," you open the doors to a new life. Once the doors remain open, it really is a privilege to be able to walk through them. Exposing feelings, accepting failure, forgiving a betrayal, or the return of a lost friendship are just some of the possibilities. It is during these moments of "risk" in our lives that "faith" comes to our rescue. It becomes our inner spirit's eyes, ears, touch, and even wisdom and understanding.
I need only look to those who have crossed paths with me in my life to understand and appreciate the "risk" involved in finding my faith. Whether it was a "Cantor" and his family who opened their arms to a "Grand Dragon" of the Ku Klux Klan and showed him the love of God, or a soccer coach named "Bob" who was diagnosed as "terminal" with cancer but lived on with shear determination and love for his players and their sport.
Their actions risked a lot. However, they knew that when they poured themselves into a life of faith, that out of their inner selves would flow rivers of living water. Is faith a risk? Of course. But failing to "step out" in faith is to risk missing life.
About the author:
Jeff Hoham is a professional English Instructor at Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has taught English Literature and Composition for the past ten years. He also coaches Tennis and Soccer. His men's and women's tennis teams have won 11 state championships. Including a record 8 in a row (1988-1995) with his boy's. His overall coaching record is 189-11. His boy's soccer team won the state championship in 1996. His 1997 boy's soccer team is presently ranked #1 in the state. He was been awarded numerous coaching and teaching awards.
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