Believe...

Today is the birthday of J.M. Barrie the author of Peter Pan. Although I was never thrilled with the concept of the boy who would never grow up, the message of the power of belief and a place called “Neverland” is appealing.

There is something powerful in the word believe. Fans of serious underdog sports teams put the word on banners, placards, t-shirts, and signs. Yes, I’ve seen them in abundance with the New York Islanders fans.....sigh....

Believe....one has to believe in something and I do believe (pun intended) there is power in that which we hold onto no matter any tangible and intelligent proof to the contrary. Be it one’s faith, one’s family, one’s sports teams, one’s nation --- belief sustains and anchors us.

While in seminary, the first class all incoming freshmen take is “Systemic Theology.” For a large class of students still a bit incredulous about finding themselves in seminary, the course called you to really think about why you believed what you did and asked you to think and reflect about the grounding and why of your beliefs. The class was a bit intense as budding theologians wrestled with the question of what one actually believed and found some long-held beliefs really weren’t that foundational anymore when faced with deep questioning and life experience.

A key exercise in the class was to write a personal “Statement of Belief.” The really cool thing was you wrote another one your senior year before graduation. The hope was that the two belief statements were drastically different and provided evidence that one had matured in one’s faith during their seminary years.

While teaching a Sunday School class on the Apostles Creed, I asked persons to write their own “Statement of Belief” and like all good teachers, I also did the exercise. That was about five years ago. A lot has happened in that time frame. It’s time for me to write another “Statement of Belief.” I invite you to join me.

In what do you believe and why?

sj;