Thursday, May 13, 2010

Fatherhood Friday - Faith Like A Child

"They say that I can move the mountains. And send them crashing into the sea. They say that I can walk on water. If I would follow and believe, with faith like a child" - Jars of Clay

Awesome lyrics as I think about the subject of today's post.  Faith like a child. You know, it never ceases to amaze me, the mind of a child that is. How the world is so open and full of new ideas and incalculable possibilities. Somewhere in the course of life we lose that ability to just walk with blind faith and unshakable ambition.


The photo above makes me think about this as it is my niece and my son looking out over Lake Murray in Lexington, SC. These two children have no fear about life and a passion for living that has no way to be explained in adult terms. They have a faith that cannot be broken and a hope that cannot be smashed.

Why is it that we lose this faith as we grow older. Sure, we know more about the dangers, uncertainties, and realities of the world as we grow, but why does this shake our faith down to it's foundation? Do we lose the ability to have this kind of faith? Do we lose the recognition of this faith?

Children all over the world, poor, rich, white, black, disabled, fully able, children everywhere, no matter the background, have a faith of the world that is to be admired, and in all honesty, something to be jealous of. Many children as they grow older will say "Daddy, I wanna be just like you" or "I'm going to be an astronaut when I grow up." We will say "okay, you be an astronaut" or "thank you for saying that." But do we believe like they do that these things are possible? If not, then why don't we?

I know this post seems more like a pointless ramble about stuff, but really, take a study of your children. Study how blindly they will follow you and believe everything you say. Watch as the hairbrush becomes a microphone to start the singing career they believe they will have when they grow up. Watch, in their eyes, this faith that allows them to greet each day with no fear, no animosities, and no worries. It is an amazing thing to behold and be inspired by. Where is our faith? Where is our childlike sense that will allow us to go out, dream, and believe that anything is possible with just a little faith?

"They say that I can walk on water. If I will follow and believe, with faith like a child"

5 comments:

Stefan Lanfer said...

i am often struck by the same with my kids, and remember that jars of clay song. so much so one of my first blogs (and later title of book) - "faith of a child" - for me it was the image of my son running and falling and running and falling and each time reaching his hand up; not even looking; just reaching up and knowing, trusting, the faith that I'd be there to grab it and set him aright on his feet. powerful faith. humbling to have it applied to me.

John T said...

Here is a link to the post by Stefan Lanfer entitled "Faith of a Child" - excellent post I hope you all enjoy! - http://ht.ly/1L4O5

twistedxtian said...

First off, I love that song.

The faith of a child is something I miss. Since becoming a dad 6 short months ago, my world has been turned upside down and I have spent a lot of time thinking about my life as a child, and how I want to be a dad like my dad was. But it also has me thinking about that faith I once had. And the imagination.

Why, when we grow up, do we lose it? I miss it, and look forward to living that faith vicariously through my son as he grows up.

CaneWife said...

What a beautiful reminder.

I see your perspective demonstrated all the time when I look at things through my son's eyes. It's amazing and powerful.

Thank you for sharing so eloquently.

Daddy Files said...

I liked this post a lot. I'm definitely jaded and probably fall into the category you described, but if I allow myself I find my son pulls me out of that rut. And I think "why the hell can't he be an astronaut?" So thanks for reminding me to get my head out of my ass.

And thanks for the congratulations over on my site as well. Much appreciated.

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