Set In Stone

Very few things are set in stone, even if we believe them to be absolute and unchanging. That is true in the case of our old farmstead and the concrete steps leading up to the back door. The original concrete mixture was filled with sand and a wide variety of small stones of different shapes and flairs. They are all firmly held in place yet they are not static.

Decades of abrasive wear from shoes and other objects crossing the threshold are evident in their weathered and slightly polished surfaces. Freezing temperatures and aging concrete have brought them partially to the foreground where they are especially noticeable when the steps become wet or when their true colors come to life in the sunshine.

Pulling on boots while sitting on the back step has raised our appreciation of the variety of stones present and reminded us that while some are rough and coarse as ever, others have acquired a polish and sheen that only time could accomplish. The stones are easy to overlook, but once seen, they cannot be disregarded. But what does that have to do with faith?

For many of us, faith (unlike belief) is something worth refining over a lifetime. It is human nature to explore the world and to ask questions for which there might not be precise answers. In fact, some are reluctant to explore at all, imagining everything else is set in stone. Nothing could be further from the truth. The question is whether we are willing to inquire over what matters in the moment as well as the long run.

All of us change with time whether we acknowledge it or not. Sometimes the change is abrupt and startling. I other moments it is painfully slow and unrevealing. Time becomes an ally if we are patient ant allow the polished surface stone to come to life though bound in concrete. It can b a perspective changer.

I no longer vest my spiritual well-being in creedalism or literal redesigns of scripture. The inconsistencies are simply too great to entertain. I no longer tout scripture on its face that is also void of contest. I will not engage in scriptural warfare, something I did when younger, nor can I demand that others believe only as I do or as my church prescribes. I hopefully respect and take seriously the spiritual journey on which each person has embarked. It is an honor to walk with them and for them to share their paths as well. To suggest that Christianity is the one and only true religion is a specious unproductive exercise. Are our ego to great as to dismiss the faith of others when we barely have scratched the surface or our own? When we achieve the level of compassion Christ calls us to, then perhaps we shall make our case.

Growing into our potential is never easy. That is especially true with religion as we continue the search for the ultimate meaning of life. With a little effort and patience, we just might discover something wonderful about ourselves and the community of with we are a part. It might not be the perfect understanding we all seek, but a polished nuance of faith here and there represents a good start. (kf)