We are now coming to that part of the year when the main religions of the world, Judaism, Islam and Christianity grapple with “Why.” It is probably no coincidence that taxes are due during this time as well, as I know a lot of people who also wonder “Why” when it comes to that.
Why, originating in old English, is a noun, interjection and adverb that was created to both explain and also question the world around, above and below them. It is a word that describes “an attempt to make sense of everything.”
We see Why in action quite a bit these days.
Why a country like Russia can go about bombing and killing Ukrainians, yet eagerly await the coming of Christ? Why are tariffs even occurring in a world so desperate for economic, political and religious justice? Why do we forsake proven science for theories when it comes to health. Why a man attempted to burn down the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Passover. Why are our laws and democracy being deliberately dismantled by those in power? Even when we get to a “why,” we find ourselves usually dissatisfied with the answer.
And here is where Faith steps in.
Faith is that odd thing that can either inspire or irk people, depending on where they stand when it comes to Why.
Faith is a choice. It is not religious in the doctrinal sense. This is choosing that we as a species are imbued with a “divine spark.”
It is choosing to believe that ultimately, we are here to serve God. Or in secular parlance, “we choose right.” It doesn’t mean that we go limp and stop fighting injustices because “God will take care of it.” We don’t dismiss everything in the world with an eye solely on the next. Faith is what allows us to pursue the Why with courage and conviction.
When placed alongside Faith, Why becomes an important indicator of the lack of morality in an individual or society.
Faith allows us to take a Why and ask, “what is the spiritual nature of this?”
In most cases, Faith in conjunction with Why reveals that there are people who do things purely devoid of the spiritual nature. They live in a deliberately chosen void of Faith. These are the people that M. Scott Peck referred to as “The People of the Lie.”
If you haven’t read this book, you need to.
Faith is our ship and Why is our lodestone. It takes both to chart a course toward the good.
An easy way to walk by Faith is to ask the question: Does this action bring me closer to the Good? Does it bring mankind closer to the ultimate goodness, i.e. God, to our divine spark?
When people choose to be devoid of Faith, they are able to discard with any sense of responsibility. When that happens, Why can be a very desolate and miserable place.
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