Last week, I read something that deeply resonated with me: the idea that sedentism—a concept we usually associate with our physical lifestyle—has also quietly settled into our spiritual lives. It’s not just about how we seek food, shelter, or comfort anymore. It’s about how we approach faith.
The reflection suggested that, since the Industrial Revolution, many of us have lived with a sense of safety and stability. That comfort has seeped into our spirituality. As long as we avoid major sins—like harming others—we assume we’re on the right path, bound for Heaven. But this kind of passive faith, shaped by comfort, can become weak. It doesn’t require boldness. It doesn’t demand trust in God when things fall apart.
I had never thought about faith in this way. I’ve always seen myself as someone fairly courageous. But when I paused to reflect, I realized that four years ago, three of the biggest “certainties” in my life were stripped away. Beyond the pain and sadness, that moment marked the end of my spiritual sedentism. It was the beginning of a new life—one that required me to trust God for real, with audacity.
Since then, I’ve learned to believe that my loved ones and I will be okay. Not because we live in abundance, but because we are cared for. God, who loves me more than the sparrows and the lilies of the field, will provide what we need. And even though life looks different from what I once dreamed, it’s surprisingly better—richer in meaning, deeper in joy.
That awakening moment was a gift. It pushed me to stand up, move forward, and walk through the doors God opened for me. The fruits have been many. I’ve grown, I’ve learned, and I know my faith will be tested again. But now, I welcome the journey. Each day brings new discoveries, and with them, a deeper sense of purpose and happiness.
Is there a part of your life where your faith might've gotten a little too comfortable?
Que cierto lo que escribes! Dar el salto al vacío cuando la vida te sonríe es muy distinto a dar el salto a los brazos del Padre cuando te sientes desvalido.
ReplyDeleteFelicitaciones por lo profundo y cierto de tu reflexión. GRACIAS
ReplyDeleteYou have hit on something here about our modern industrial world and how it creates obstacles to faith. We feel so much more in control of the world than people did for most of history. There are so few mysteries when all the answers are at our fingertips. There are so few uncertainties when we can use our tools, machines, or money to make the dangers inherent in the natural world go away. So many of us grew in faith during the pandemic, because we felt a loss of control over the world. And, unfortunately, many of us connect or reconnect with our faith after a tremendous loss. How do we spread faith and spirituality in such a safe society?
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