faith - firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust; something that is believed especially with strong conviction; (verb) the act of believing

to believe - to accept as true, genuine, or real; to have a firm conviction

cognition - to know

to know - to perceive directly; to have understanding of; to be acquainted or familiar with; be convinced or certain of; to have a practical understanding of

to doubt - to lack confidence in, distrust; to consider unlikely; to be uncertain

to sense - to be or become conscious or cognizant of something

emotion - a state of feeling; a conscious mental reaction subjectively experienced as strong feeling

delusion - something that is falsely or delusively believed; a persistent false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary

intuition - the power or faculty of attaining to direct knowledge or cognition without evident rational thought and inference «knowing without knowledge»

Faith is often completely misunderstood. We are taught concepts of Faith that appear to be tangible, but are often masks for the true essence of Faith. What is Faith? What is the most basic denominator of Faith, what does it do, what is it for, and how does one come into a living touch with Faith? What has sustained so many historic and legendary figures throughout the ages? Why have many of those who are remembered for their Faith given to often dire and doubtful circumstances? Could it be that Faith is far too simple, perhaps that we as humans with material and security cravings will miss it's essence? What if one needs a vital connection with a living Faith, a definition or container for Belief, that can carry one through a difficult transition? Please consider that Faith as not a noun, not an object, not a system of beliefs that are embodied or indoctrinated in any form. Please consider what faith is not:

Faith is exerted in the mind of a person as a free will choice, most often through or by acute and attentive mental awareness and discipline. Some of the characteristics of a living, breathing, vital connection with Faith:

Faith is choosing to believe that something is, or can occur. Doubt is choosing to believe that something is not, or can not occur. Faith unites two concepts that may ordinarily never know a connection except in the heart and mind of the person who believes. One believes what they choose to believe for their own personal transformation, for that which the conscious act of believing releases inside them.

Ultimately, there are only two categories of belief: the Universe at large, with any of it's miraculous workings - or the people in the Universe, be it in oneself or another. Believing in oneself has a bit more capability for input and expectation, as there is ultimately no control whatsoever over the thoughts, feelings, choices, or actions of another human being. Believing in another person leaves one much more vulnerable to the ultimate workings of the Universe, which is infinitely capable. Faith wanders astray when the one who believes degenerates into attachment to an outcome. Worse yet, consider the pitfall of delusion, which is faith in foolishness despite obvious evidence to the contrary.

What is a 'vital human connection'? What is there to purpose in life? Is life a continual quest for security and material possessions? Is life a community effort, a shared journey? Is it enough just to love someone, and ask no more of them? Even in the face of adversity, no matter what happens, no matter what the outcome, is it possible to simply love that which one sees, has seen, or believes in another person? If this love exists inside of one who truly believes, and there is no outward verification of this love, does it really exist?

The path of Faith crosses a bridge that spans the deepest of caverns, knowing that the fall to either side is into an endless abyss of Doubt and Fear. Indeed, in order to cross the bridge of Faith, one must accept the presence and imminent challenges of Doubt. Jumping off the bridge bring certain disaster. When one undertakes the crossing of Faith by believing in another person, it is essentially assumed that the other person would cross the same bridge, embarking from the opposite side. Do they walk from the other shore, meet one in the center? Do they move in a synchronous step, not shaking the bridge? Do the footsteps work together to create a certain and sure transformation? Believing of this sort can cause more consternation than the belief one would undertake for theirself alone - but ultimately brings the greatest reward.

Faith is patient, clear, and refreshing. "The fact that I Believe does not require that anyone else believe" - so said Morpheus, from The Matrix. Although the path of Faith and Believing can be frustrating, it can be one of the greatest teachers of Patience. Ultimately, one must even release the act of Believing in order to realize that in which one has placed Faith. Oddly, the act of Believing can get in the way of seeing and experiencing that in which one has Faith. The true release is to the workings of the Universe at large, which appears to be doing a fairly good job all by itself. In the final end, even Jesus doubted the Father.