From Faithful America: "What is faith? A Holy Week reflection"

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV)A FaithfulAmerican wrote to me recently wondering why we continue to ask folks to speak out for matters that, in her words, “will never see the light of day?”   It is a good question – especially during this Christian Holy Week and Jewish Passover.All that God created began with a single idea – a thought – then a word – then a conviction – and finally a reality.  “Let there be light.”  And there was.Whenever we invoke the words of the prophets – “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an everflowing stream*”  for instance – we participate in the powerful process that ushers creation into being.  By speaking the words we give them a space in reality.  Yet speaking the words alone is never enough. Faith is the ingredient which keeps that space for creation so that it can unfold, and according to the writer of the letter to the Hebrews,  it is  “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Doesn't this sound a little like wishful thinking, or closing our eyes and clicking our heels? I'm not a theologian, but here is what I believe about faith.  Faith is not whistling in the graveyard (or on Capitol Hill for that matter) - it is not ignoring the uphill battle that good people face when changing the world for the better.  The assurance of things hoped for is often less about when a hoped-for dream becomes a reality than why that dream must become reality.  The conviction of things not seen isn’t always about when or even how it will come to pass but rather why it deserves our energies and skills.  We hold fast to our faith that the world may be someday safe for children because we have assurance in the right-ness of it and the conviction necessary to see it through.    Faith means living not by our feelings but by our commitments.  When we can focus on the “whys”  we can be assured that the “hows” will arrive in due time.  Many of you agree, which is why 4,000 of you sent letters to Attorney General Gonzales calling for the release of professor Sami Al Arian (who, due in large measure to your show of strength and support, ended his hunger strike.)  It is why last week you sent more than 10,000 letters to Capitol Hill demanding quality health care for all children. Did those emails change the hearts of the Attorney General and lawmakers on Capitol Hill?  Who can say?  But try and imagine a Capitol Hill without them!You create space for Holy things to happen in this world through your time, your dollars, and your energies.  Your faith compels you to continue to take action time and again – even when you cannot feel its movement.  Is it any wonder why we are grateful to be part of your expressions of care?  You can have faith that FaithfulAmerica will continue to offer ways for you to honor your commitments through action.  In just a few days we will unveil a plan that will enable you to help save one million children every year, and there will be more ways for you to engage your faith on behalf of others.Whatever your faith tradition, may this be a Holy week for you!Blessings,Vince IsnerFaithfulAmerica.orgPS: FaithfulAmerica depends upon gifts from you.  Please consider a gift to FaithfulAmerica here.  Thanks!*Amos 5:24