The two central aspects of my Faith

 I've been thinking a lot about my faith recently and how it interacts with my life. What's central, what isn't, what's evolved, what hasn't. That sort of thing. And it really made me reflect on what my faith is bound on. Two things rose to the top. One was Jesus Christ as a figure divine. The other was the inherent good I see in other people.  

So we're going to start with the second first. I think that mankind is inherently good. I just do. I see it every day. I think the majority of suffering inflicted upon is brought on by hardships. Hardships that lead to desperate acts. All while the majority of people attempt to just live their lives. Lives that need redemption and alleviation to suffering. 

Lives that I admire and come to goodness to alleviate that suffering and find redemption in various ways. Ways that continue to amaze me. 

I could talk about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy, or Carl Jung Archetypes to show how this faith in my fellow man has grown. But it has. 

I'm at a place where I have seen people step up large and small over and over in a crisis and the day to day. Filled with kindness and love. I can't deny the humanity and it's goodness.

The universality of it has struck me. It’s not restricted to one denomination of religion or practice of faith. It’s not restricted to one political affiliation. It’s not limited to specific cultures. It’s everywhere. 

Everywhere I’ve gone in my life I’ve encountered kindness. Whether directed at me, or quietly witnessed, acts of charity and goodness abound. People want to do right, regardless of circumstance. They want to help and do good.

Seeing that, recognizing that; it’s really changed how I view people and what they do. The majority of people seek good. I should too. 

For me that drive to do kindness was always rooted in something. Before it was inherent in me, I learned it through studying Christ, believing in him, experiencing that. 

That Faith in Christ is more than just a dogma, theology, or doctrine, I follow. It's deeper and undeniable. 

See I actually struggled to know Christ, to have faith, especially as a young teenager. I've spoken about that before. The struggle I had developing a divine relationship. I used to quantify it as a struggle to develop or gain a testimony. That seems shortsighted now and I'll be finishing up some thoughts on that soon. But in the meantime I want to talk about the most salient moments that provided me direction, enlightenment, and connection. 

I remember hearing some version of Christ suffering, atoning, and dying for my sins all of my life. The ability to repent was paramount. It was what we talked about constantly. I don't ever want to downplay what it means to change, to turn one's life around. I've struggled at times with behaviors and addictions that were difficult to overcome. I truly believe I had divine aid to do it. But I found myself looking at the writing's of Christ and how his relationship's were and I saw that I needed something more. 

I remember reading this set of verses and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It's in the Book of Mormon. Alma 7:11-13.

"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

It went beyond repentance. It went beyond redemption for sin. It went to healing, growth, comfort, and relief. I began to change prayer because of that. I began to see my own relationship and image of Christ and God change. 

I felt a greater desire to do more to heal. 

Now in my life I've dealt with physical and mental trauma, chemical imbalances, addiction, and chronic illness. The desire to heal has been embedded in me. To help. To strive to do something better.

I want to take my life beyond just changing the actions and habits that are harmful to myself and others (sin) and move toward becoming even better. I want to stop taking out weeds and I want to put in flowers. 

Then I want to take that drive and those experiences unique to myself and help others. 

Whether that striving to be better is a desire to match the goodness of my fellow man or the goodness of Christ in my life. I don’t fully know. And I’m not sure if the direction of the path matters anymore.

Many people talk about seeing the glory of God in nature. I see that. I do. But I see it so much more in the love of those around me. Near to me and farther. It’s my hope that others see that love and goodness in me too. 

What I learn, the relationships I make. That’s the two things this life is about. And it’s the most sure I’ve been in my faith. Love of God and my fellow man. It’s what it’s all about.