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Dave Sawyer's avatar

At a discussion in a friend’s cabin recently, the word “faith” came up, and I simply stated that I have faith, and another friend said he did also, but my friend who owned the cabin went into a talk about only believing in provable things. As we were at his cabin, the other friend and I let it drop. What was apparent to me, though, was that he equated the word faith with a belief in the supernatural, and that is not my belief system. I believe in the natural. I’m comfortable saying that I believe in God, but my god is really the Universe, not a supernatural being. I was thinking on a hike just yesterday that what I truly have is trust. I trust in the Universe, in the way it is, the way it was, the way it will be. That to me is faith.

Then just this morning I read the Ehrmann poem you sent, and this passage hit home:

“And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.”

Thank you for that.

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Cara's avatar

Thank you, Susan, for sharing this simple, yet profound poem - and thank you for sharing your thoughts.

This stanza spoke to me:

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

Beautiful. To me, it says “be in peace.”

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