My sister-in-law, Cathy, is in hospice as her body wears down nearing its release on life.

It’s been difficult seeing her anguish in pain until the medication kicked in and even harder to see her struggle for each breath. It’s difficult to see her loved ones (including me) struggle with the realization of letting her go.

My brother asked me to write about our childhood years – we were kids together. They lived two houses down from us growing up. As I pondered those growing up years, my memory brought back some really fun times. It brought up childhood traumas as well.

As I held these things in my heart, I came to realize that there was a constant stream running through my life and through hers.

Faith.

She went to a different church and I daresay she certainly did not believe the same today. Yet, Faith prevailed. An unyielding perception in a Loving presence that guided and supported us.

Certainly, we could get ourselves into our own brand of difficulty as my memory certainly brought to my attention. Yet, whether it was difficulty of our own making or difficulty brought to us by life, this current of Faith, carried us forward.

When we speak of water flowing, we use the word current. When we speak of being present, we use the word current, like current events. Events unfolding out of previous happenings. Water currents flowing from the headwaters to the ocean.

We sometimes feel the current of life or the current of life’s events might carry us away. Yet, there is a stronger current that carries us through. Faith. Rather than battling life’s currents, we flow into the current of Faith and float upon the waters of inner peace.

Not easy! We want to fight the stream! We want to kick against the flow! The key is to know when Faith urges us to fight for what we believe or when Faith asks us to surrender our will into the current of Love and Light. Sometimes we don’t know the difference until we’ve leaped over the waterfall or have been dragged beyond it. Yet, Faith holds its course in the process.

Faith grants us the strength to do the things we feel we cannot. Faith grants us the peace to stand up for what we believe in. Faith grants us courage to release our expectations and let go of our need to control circumstances.

Faith is a choice of will and a gift from God at the same time. Faith arrives when we are out of options. Faith abides when we cannot hang on. Faith builds as our trust ignites.

You know this. You live this.

And yet, doubt sits heavy upon our hearts. We doubt that there is enough Love and Light to help. We doubt that we are worthy of being lifted by Faith. We doubt that Faith can carry us through. Doubt is the mechanism by which we recognize Faith. Honor the doubt - Faith strengthens. Recognize the doubt - Love and Light renew their efforts to be experienced.

Whatever measure of Faith we have will be strengthened and supplemented. Faith carries us through.

So, as I await notification that Cathy has breathed her last, I have Faith that we will meet again. I have Faith that she will be carried gently over to the Other Side. I have Faith that my Creator is her Creator, too. I have Faith that soon she will rest in Creator’s arms where she will await my arrival.

Whatever challenge you might be facing, may Faith make its presence known to you. May Faith carry you through.