By The Rev. James A. Weathersby,
During these challenging times in civilizations’ collective history, we must mention COVID19, especially in our Reflectionary. To the millions of newly unemployed and the millions impacted globally, we pause and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the planetary family. Our respect for the global effort among researchers, doctors and healthcare professionals racing for a cure, working for a vaccine and ensuring the survival of the human race. This is no worst-case scenario or fanciful science fiction movie line. We human beings chose, now, to exercise our communal ‘faith’ at this time; others may prefer the synonyms of reliance, optimism, or conviction.
In my opinion, faith is an invitation. It is my experience as an Ordained Minister and a Certified Chaplain (II) that the word faith is loaded with expectation, meaning and memory. I remind our readers that faith is a religious word, a spiritually ambiguous word and a neutral word found in the dictionary. The synonyms for faith are reliance, confidence, optimism, conviction, trust, tradition and belief. I have seen this word lived out in the lives of men and women who were not all religious, but they were curious about experiences beyond their normal. They asked questions, entertained ideas and historic words that spoke to that something deeper than their conventional events. This is true for people who explore their tradition, rediscover their culture or delve into their family tree. That invitation within that word ‘faith’ can be the beginning of a spiritual journey, evolution of the human spirit and empowering a life to move forward into the unknown future. Someone said, “courage is not lack of fear, it is being afraid and going forward anyway!”
People who ask questions are engaging life. Stating “we don’t know what we don’t know” is a sign of wisdom. Here is when the bidding of faith invites our natural curiosity to find out for ourselves. People are inquisitive, why not about our spirituality? Be interested “where the sidewalk ends” (Shel Silverstein). There is always more to know; faith can be the ground out of which we stretch toward the beckoning sky.
The Rev. James A. Weathersby M.Div., BCC was born in Chicago, product of a dedicated single mother and the Public-School system. He is a genetic Baptist and a historic Democrat; spirituality in his veins for generations. His family valued Education and the Black church; there are four generations of ministers in his family, serving as Pastors of congregations and Chaplains in Institutions. His Bachelors of Arts came from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois from the Reformed Churches of America tradition. His Masters of Divinity Degree (specialty in Pastoral Care and Counseling) came from the southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville Kentucky, from the Southern Baptist tradition. His professional career as a Chaplain includes serving populations in Hospitals, Hospice, both Men’s and Women’s Corrections (Death Row Chaplain) in several Midwestern states. His time in Maine has included Chaplaincy at a Youth Development Center, Pastor to an island congregation and lately, Chaplain (II) of the State Forensic and civil Psychiatric Center. He has been honored to be married for 27 years and enjoy writing, yoga, and reading.
Faith and Potential, painting by Valerie A. Clemons.
