Faith Is Part Of Our Tradition

Have you ever thought about the traditions that you used to engage in as a young adult? Or even as a child, if you can remember back that far. There have been lots of traditions that come and go through our lives. We have good ones, and there are some you would rather forgo. We remember ones that we wish were still there and we move forward to embrace new ones. Whether we like it or not, even traditions change over time.
Take for instance, Easter Sunday morning. As children we would get something new to wear for church. I remember one year, it was a blue shirt. But it was a tradition until life got in the way. Money was tight and the tradition was gone. I remember going to our uncles in the spring and going down to the creek in Stoney Creek and watching all the wildlife coming out to greet the world. I know. We should have never chased the pheasants. Now it doesn’t hold our attention as much. Then there are sunday dinners, the car rides, trips to the beach, gatherings at family reunions and kisses from Aunt Bea, going to church, birthday parties, wool socks from Aunt Cecile.
Woo! Going to church? Yes, for some, going to church was, and is a tradition. Like I said at the first, some we like and some we didn’t. When I was young, some boys I knew called church a drag. Not that it was bad but that the only way they came was, they were dragged. To them, they thought there were other things more important to do then sit still and listen to someone tell them they were wrong, or bad or sinful, or just not measuring up. Sorry, we just wanted to be kids, and do kid stuff. There would be lots of time in our life to do the church thing.
Well, time has marched on. We have started and abandoned lots of traditions. We left them behind due to situations and circumstances. Grandparents are gone, aunts and uncles are empty nesters and the cousins have families of their own. Now we have time. Time to create new traditions. Ones that relate to who we are now and what is most important in our lives. Just to let you know, there are only two things in life that are really, really important. And they are people, and things. No, they aren’t. People are the one and believe it or not, faith is the other. No pun intended.
We know the people thing. But have we rediscovered the faith tradition? Not the faith of our parents, but the faith that rests deep down in each one of us. They tell us that just over seven out of ten people are spiritually motivated. When you walk down the street this week, count the people you meet. When you get to seven, the next two will not be so inclined to spiritual matters. Don’t stop there. Go back to the first seven. Do you know which of them is spiritually motivated? Then of the next two, are they just taking up space and using oxygen in relations to knowing God?
If you think you have it right, you will have noticed something. That is only nine people. You are number ten. Where are you? Faith is not a tradition where we go through the motions. It is something most people search for all their lives. It is something that gives them purpose and direction. Ask yourself what you are doing this coming Sunday morning. Are you going to sit by the stoney creek watching the water run by or are you working on your faith tradition?
Something to think about.
Rob