Clinging to Faith

April 27, 2009 by James F. McGrath

Whoever clings to his or her faith shall lose it,
and whoever lets go of his or her faith shall keep it.

[A variation on Luke 17:33]

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Anonymous

Pulleeze! How banal.
James F. McGrath

More banal than an insulting anonymous comment? Hardly! :)Perhaps I should have said faith is like a bird. If you keep it in a strangle hold, it will eventually die. If you set it free, not only may you find you haven’t lost it, you may find that it carries you, rather than vice versa.
Josh

James, are you saying we can be carried by little birds?”If you love something, set it free; if it comes back it’s yours, if it doesn’t, it never was.”;^)
James F. McGrath

Oh you of little faiths/birds! 😉
Chris

Axiomatic though your statement may seem, James, I’m not sure it’s true.Perhaps this might be a bit more what you’re getting at.Healthy faith is like a healthy child: it will grow up, whether you like it or not. You can choose to either accept your child’s coming of age or to deny it. In the former case you and your child can maintain a healthy ongoing relationship. In the latter case your child will leave you to your delusions, and you will die alone in the crazy house.
Fred H. Anderson

James, what you said reminds me of some lines by William Blake that I’ve always treasured:”he who binds to himself a joy does the winged life destroy; but he who kisses the joy as it flies lives in eternity’s sun rise.”I think you are saying that faith is like that. I agree. But then perhaps I am banal too.
steph

Brilliant. Including the expanded bird version. 🙂
Chris

love the William Blake quote.