Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 28, 2025
THOUGHTS ON FAITH – THEN AND NOW
This week’s letter is the third in a series…recent Sunday Letters have been about Crosses, Prayers and Meditation. Faith is the focus for the third in the series. I chose Faith last as it continues to evolve even now as an elder.
We are all pilgrims in this mystery and mystical life journey of Faith. My childhood Faith began at Poly Baptist, with simple Bible stories, Brother Arms preaching and Sunday School. The Faith of my youth struggled to keep up and mature with my physical growth, teen experiences and life questions. I was blessed in college by Faith guides and mentors. I witnessed friends’ Faith wandering, becoming lost, many returning to Faith in new ways and some not at all.
- Did the Faith of your youth grow and mature as you entered adult years?
- Who are your spiritual guides? Are you “paying back” by being a Faith encourager to someone now?
- Has there been an art form (music, painting, theater) that has helped you express your Faith?
- Is there a sacred place of Faith you would like to visit (Jerusalem, Plum Village, India)?
- Is your Faith too small or limited for your larger, full life of your today’s self?
Daily life, as well as Faith experiences, are no longer singular events. Causes, weather, foods, and markets are all Inter-related, connected. The same is true for Inter-faith opportunities, whether Christain, Buddhist, Muslem, or other Faiths. For many of us, our Faith is a mix or combination of different orientations.
My Faith writers have been and continue to be Thomas Merton, Richard Rohr, Anne Lamott and Thich Nhat Hanh. I encourage you to seek persons and groups that encourage your faith experiences.
Lastly this Sunday, from your adult self, write a letter about your Faith experience to your youthful self.
Roy, being Faithful
Faith to me is trusting and believing in something when I have no concrete evidence. Growing up , having faith was part of daily life. When I got away from home my faith was tested. I questioned my values and life in general. I had a roommate that lived by faith and her influence brought me back. Over the years, I questioned my faith at times and felt abandoned but even in those times faith never completely left. I really don’t ponder my faith, I just know it is always there, grateful for this constant in my life.
Sometimes we find our true Faith, our true selves on the edges of out lives.
Sometimes the edge becomes our new center.
You show us your faith through children’s joy of dress, of encouraging a volunteer to continue, of having lunch with we 2.
Grateful for you…..
I discovered the joy of liturgical years about 30 years ago. Putting movements of the body to either scriptures read by a lector, or dancing in a team to some ancient hymn of the church was meditative for us as dancers, and resonated with people in the audience who told us later that they saw elements of faith in a whole new light. I injured my left knee sometime in the process, so only do smaller movements now, but have choreographed a piece about the life and actions of St. Peter called “Casting Nets” I hope someday to perform it. It is set for a single dancer and uses strong male movements around the life of a fisher. It could easily be adapted for a group of dancers. All art can point us humans to the divine. Dance is one of those “ways” to God that can help experience the Holy of life.
That sounds fascinating. Please let us know if you find a place and time to produce this work. We could all attend and share a Sunday Letter meet & greet afterwards.
Yes. Dancing is indeed Holy and Sacred.
Even on weaker knees still we dance.
Reserve me a seat for Casting Nets.
Today, Violet and I were once again invited to be honored by the Unity Church Santa Fe and the amazing Rev. Liz. We received a check as 10 percent of all their donations are given back to community organizations. It’s our second time being honored. But more. The friendliness, the love, the welcoming is palpable. Goodness, kindness, spirituality, song, prayer so easily given and received. A circle of hands and people singing together at the closing of the ceremony. Moving, spiritual, loving, powerful, faith driven. I am a lucky and grateful person. And Violet an exemplary ambassador of the canines.
XOXOXOOX to you and Beth.
We 3 would fit right in
Open and Friendly are expressions not heard or delt often enough these days.
Soak the good and healthy choices deep inside, stored for days when it is not so.
Roy, thank you for a Sunday Letter that speaks across and welcomes the diversity of your readership. We are an oasis of connection in a divided world.
This topic reconnects me to mentors and influential experiences across my 63 years. Grandmother formed my faith with conversation over washing Sunday dishes in the kitchen sink. My highschool sweetheart taught me how to pray conversationally. Participating in the birth of my children ignited a creator spark in me. Faith began as a mental decision to believe in what I could not verify. Faith became a posture for experiencing everything in life. Your questions help me recognize that.
I ‘see you’ on a kitchen stool in your grandmother’s kitchen, Soaking up the wisdom to lead you humbly to share with your now wisdom age.
I am not a Christian. I am neither Protestant nor Catholic. I am not Jewish although I treasure Yom Kippur. I am not Muslim, nor Shinto. I am not Buddhist although I long to be a bodhisattva – enlightenment in the moment. So I celebrate my personal vision – a world that works for everyone. I seek daily to live my mission – “How can I help?” I recite the most well known prayer of St. Francis – … make me an instrument of Your peace. I incorporate the mantra “Om mani padme hum” into my morning yoga practice. I attempt to live my values daily, moment by moment. I wish each of you to be well, be happy, love and be loved. ❤️❤️❤️
I have returned to writing Morning Pages (Julia Cameron). Not about content, writing about what is or is not.
Sat. morning. Drafting Sunday Letter; a full page of life quotes.
Good and healthy thoughts of you and Ken.
I wish we had not moved.
I am glad we moved.
Our weekly meditation group experience vital to us now. Breath all during the nights and days,
Back to drafting…..Rou