Faith Isn't Like Fridays

Friday again.  Wave really big if that makes you happy!  It's here.  The day of the week that welcomes kicking back, doing nothing much, or ... catching up on all the chores and work we couldn't finish during the week.  Maybe your Friday brings thoughts of Game Night or Movie Night.  Maybe you'll go out to dinner or have a rare and much-needed Date Night.  Whatever your Friday holds, you have had it the back of your mind all week, planning, hoping and waiting.

And then, it will end.  The weekend hurtles past at lightning speed and you're headlong into the new week.  What happened to Friday?

I have thought a bit about how faith isn't like Fridays.  At least it how it shouldn't be like Fridays.  It all makes perfect sense!

Faith works every day of the week.  Faith doesn't take a coffee break or a vacation.  To really show its capability, faith shows up 24 hours day, seven days a week.  When the day goes well, faith shows up with gratitude and thanksgiving, and spreads the joy to others in quiet ways and in larger, more obvious celebrations.  When the day brings difficulties, faith works to smooth them and carry us over, around or through them.  Faith doesn't rest.

Faith won't disappoint you.  Unlike hope for Friday, faith won't leave you realizing it's only Tuesday.  It bears you up with you'd like to shut down.  When you focus on it, it works for you.



Faith doesn't require a calendar or special time slots.  Faith happens anywhere and at any time.  As you grow in it, faith happens everywhere and at every time.  It can't be contained in a calendar square or on a line in your notebook.  It can't act on a planned timeline.  It's perpetual.  Never-ending.

Faith doesn't require advance planning.  Faith is.  It will happen at a moment's notice or make its presence very clear over a long period of time.  It does not issue announcements or ask for invitations.  You need not RSVP.

Faith needs only one prop.  Faith should have a Bible handy to answer questions and to grow and learn.  Otherwise, it flies in for an emergency without an airline ticket.  It feeds the hungry without a state-inspected kitchen or a pantry full of food.  It gives peace and mercy to those who need it without a license.  No other specialty gear required.

Faith has endless expansion possibilities.  Not confined to a day, an hour or a moment, it has staying power.  When you feed it (reading, studying, praying, sharing) it multiplies.  The more you use it, the larger it grows.  You can feel and sometimes see the difference as faith moves along with you through every day, month and year.  No one can put a gauge on faith to show when the tank is full.  It will always grow to hold itself and even overflow for sharing with others.

Faith handles cancellations or adjustments without feeling disturbed or disappointed.  With no expiration date, faith remains endlessly "in season".  If you miss church, faith doesn't skip off without you.  If you have to cancel plans, faith doesn't hang its head dejectedly.

Faith is timeless.   You won't miss its debut, or it's endless number of sequels.  You don't have to return it or pay any penalties for keeping it.  It won't grow cold because the Delivery Guy has perfect timing.

Faith is free.  No explanation necessary on that point.

Faith will not disappoint you.  Its products won't fail you.  Its very nature will fulfill you in many small ways and carry you to better  and sometimes bigger places.  Faith won't desert you when the weather turns cold or rainy.  It won't leave you hanging.  It doesn't depend on everyone else showing up.   Faith doesn't require that you dress a certain way or bring a dish to share.  It comes to you, right where you are, no matter where you are.  Faith has no age limit and comes in all sizes.

Fridays can leave me feeling disappointed, as if I have missed something, as if I have not done enough to make it a worthwhile experience.  Friday leaves me -- over and done.  It has limits

I've lived many, many Fridays, but none of them stick with me in detail.  None of them have carried me through trouble spots or given me victory over anything in my life.  They can put a bandage on the end of a busy or difficult week, but they don't heal or support in any way.

Faith really has a lot going for it, and there's more than enough for everyone.

No line.

No waiting!