A Persistent Faith

Many years ago, I decided that I wanted to learn guitar, and I wanted to be able to play it well. I bought an inexpensive guitar at first. After learning some chords, I could play a few songs. I thought that if I bought a really nice guitar it would enhance my playing, so I asked a friend of mine, who is an excellent guitarist, to pick one out for me. He selected one that sounded the best to him. That was 35 years ago. I can still play, but I’m average at best. I failed to take into consideration the many hours of practice needed to become the guitarist I aspired to be.

Like learning the guitar, embarking on a spiritual journey is filled with both excitement and uncertainty. You start with basic chords and simple melodies as a beginner guitar player, and you start with the fundamentals of faith as a new believer. Musicians play more complex pieces as their skills develop. Likewise, as we grow in faith, we take on more challenging spiritual questions. And just like playing an instrument, growing in faith requires commitment, practice, and time.

In both endeavors, there will be times of frustration — when your fingers fumble or your faith is tested. Like with so many other things, the beauty lies not just in the end result but in the journey itself. And each step we take in faith moves us along a much greater path.