 Everyone
Faith - for Catherine
Posted: 23-Jul-05
Last Updated: 23-Jul-05
July 10th 2005
I want to share with you a story of faith.
Once there was a woman who was
dying in the hospital.
Her daughter came to her
to visit and they said their goodbyes.
Before the daughter left
the mother said,
“Would you please move that
chair beside my bed?”
“Sure mom, but what for?”
“Well, I’ve never told anyone before
but I have always had trouble
praying because I find it hard to
imagine Jesus – so I have always
put a chair beside me when I pray
and I can imagine Jesus sitting in the chair
listening to me as I talk to him.
I know it sounds silly but it works.”
The daughter placed the chair and said goodbye.
Later that day the hospital phoned to
tell her that her mother had died.
When she got to the hospital
the nurse said to her
“There was something kind of strange
and I don’t know what it means
or if I should tell you but
we found your mother with
her head placed upon the chair beside her bed.”
I find that a touching story
because I can imagine her placing
her head in the lap of Jesus.
I find this story helpful.
Catherine was a very dear person
to me and helped me so much
over the years here especially
on Sunday mornings and I will miss her.
We are all grieving today and
we have been faced one way or another
with the question about faith.
What do we believe about faith?
Someone once said that faith
was something that is ok
“if it helps you get through the night.”
Something a bit like a cosmic teddy bear.
I didn’t find that very helpful.
Another definition comes from
Archie Bunker from All in the Family
Archie who has his inexhaustible command
over the English language.
He is arguing with Meathead as he always does
and says “Certainly I have faith”
Meathead says “But you have no proof”
Archie: “I don’t need proof.
Faith doesn’t need proof.
Faith is believing in something
that nobody in their right mind
would believe.”
I think he meant to say something
along the lines of
faith is believing in the face of doubt.
Another definition of faith is
“a certainty in things unseen.”
I find that more helpful
than Archie’s definition.
I want to tell you another story
about faith – it’s an allegory I guess.
There was a man who was very elderly and ill.
Hid doctor came to see him
at his home and he noticed that
the old man had his faithful dog
beside his bed.
“That dog stays with you everywhere”
said the doctor.
“Yes, he’s a good friend.
We’ve been together 10 years.
He’s taught me a lot about faith.”
“How do you mean?”
asked the doctor.
“Well, when I’m in another room
and the door is closed,
my dog just sits and waits for me
to open the door.
He cannot see me, or hear me or smell me
yet he knows that his master is there
and will eventually open the door
and he will come in.
“I cannot see my Lord Jesus
I cannot touch him or smell him but
I know that he is behind the door.
And so I wait.
When I die, the door will open
and I know I will be with my Master.”
I believe Catherine had this sort of faith.
May we be blessed in this faith as well.
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