Faith and doctrine are central features of your faith. Do you think of faith only in terms of doctrine? Do you think you must have everything correctly understood before your faith has meaning? Do you recall the story of the Centurion with the sick servant? I commended him for having greater faith than I had found in Israel. Consider the magnitude of this statement. What did he believe? Would you expect a Roman to have faith according to correct doctrine? Yet I still commended him. Exercise faith according to what you understand and I will lead you into all truth.

When you see someone with a disability, do you give them an extra measure of grace and consideration? Some disabilities are obvious, such as those that limit mobility. What about others? Who do you know that isn’t fighting a battle of some sort, to overcome inherent limitations or unfavorable circumstances? Do you make an issue of whether they made bad choices that led to their current condition? It isn’t necessary to be so judgmental. When you see someone in a wheelchair, do you ask if they were at fault in the accident that led to this? In like manner you can give grace to everyone.

Do you find it disturbing to have your truth paradigms challenged? This can occur in two ways. You may find that there are precepts that you accepted that don’t stand up in real-life experience. You may also find that there is truth outside of your tradition. Are you prepared to reject things that don’t work and embrace those that do? Which of these do you find to be more difficult? Do you view your life as a journey in the pursuit of truth, and follow wherever it leads, continually refining and enlarging your understanding? Have faith.

Do you like to view wild animals? You can see them in the zoo, but would you agree that it is better to encounter them in their natural habitat than in captivity? You take pictures of them and share them and your friends like them. There is something embedded in humanity that responds to the majesty of these great creatures. What is it, and why does this matter? Are you prepared to see this as a spiritual experience? They are part of my created order that reflects my glory.