Faith the size of a Mustard Seed

I grew up, and still live, in the Bible belt. I was raised in the church. To be more specific, I was raised in the Catholic Church. I went to Catholic grade school and continued all the way through high school. Heck, I was also an alter boy. Before you ask, no I have no shameful stories about the Church. It was a good experience. It’s pretty safe to say that most of my friends and acquaintances growing up were also Christians. I was exposed to a lot of information about different religions in school but I really didn’t have many non-Christian friends.

As a young adult I stopped going to church. It took many years to find my own way and find a religion that I felt comfortable with. I got married and had children and the whole idea of church because very important again. I wanted my children to be raised with strong morals and a strong sense of family unity that a church offered.

As I get older I still have religious doubts. There are times when I am not really sure why I am at church. A lot of times I look around and wonder why other people are at church. Are we a bunch of suckers? Are they thinking the same thing I am? I have always believed in God and I really feel like I have a blessed life. I have a wonderful wife and three children I am very proud of. I have a good paying job and live in a nice house. I admit that I am envious sometimes of people with a strong faith. They believe without question. Maybe I am too logical and try to see science in too many things.

How can you tell a good Christian? Well, around here you would think that a good Christian is good because he says he is. People brag about what church they go to and like to talk about God very loudly. I always picture them being the people who hug and kiss and shake everyone’s hands at church and then are the first ones out of the church parking lot after the service, waving their middle finger at anyone who cuts them off. These are the same people that have the fish decals on the back bumpers of their cars. Of course I’m generalizing, but you get the idea.

I always thought a good Christian should be discovered through actions not words. Instead of telling someone you believe in God, why not buy a homeless person a sandwich or pay for the person’s toll in the car behind you. These random acts of kindness, when done deliberately, show people your true character. Strangers shouldn’t have to guess whether you are a good person.

I don’t talk about my faith very much. God knows me and has guided my life. I will talk about church if someone is open to talking about it. Nothing is gained by force. I believe that God does have a purpose for all of us. I don’t understand why things happen the way they do but I remain the optimist and try hard to have a mustard seed’s worth of faith.