Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” – Ephesians 2:8

It’s funny how I never feel saved, and yet I simultaneously know that I am. My feelings come and go; they’re transient. The word of God lasts forever, however, and more especially the One who is the Word of God. My feelings come and go, and that’s OK. Feelings are real, but they don’t drive me. If they did, I’d often be dead in the water, or like a steam locomotive stuck on the tracks without steam. I had a friend explain to me one time that “faith is the locomotive, but feelings are the caboose. They’re all part of the train, but it’s the locomotive that provides the power, not the caboose.”

I have always found metaphors helpful in my faith journey. I get too confused when talking about theology or philosophy. I need concrete imagery. I realize that can sometimes cause problems. Every metaphor breaks down. It’s like thinking of God as Father; that’s great if one had a good father, as I did. But many don’t, and my Dad was far from perfect. But he did the best he could. God doesn’t try. God does. Pronouns don’t always work. I still use masculine pronouns, mostly out of habit, but strive to use feminine ones, too. The important thing for me is knowing that none of us gets God all that well (but “God gets us”). We do the best we can, and the lion’s share (another metaphor) of scripture reminds us that we’re all in God’s hands, anyway. That gives me hope to carry on in faith. It also helps when I get my caboose to church!

Dear God, help me to remember that my strength is not to be seen by my standing alone, but by standing in the middle of many, through whom I may better see my hope. Amen.
-Fr. Keith Axberg