Foreword

My use of the word faith in this essay is strictly in the sense of faith in God and not in the wider sense that I have used it in other essays on this site. 

Faith - A Beginning

I once lived without faith.  Alone in the world without knowledge of God I walked according to the course of this world, confident in the authority of my own reason.  But I stumbled.

Once upon a time in history (and what is history but a tale of travail and woe) a man lived (or at least he assumed that he did). Night followed day and unfortunately the night mostly won. And he was alone. It wasn’t that he was separated from people but rather that he knew that there was a part of himself, the deepest part, that knew its aloneness.

Day after day I’ll follow You
Wounded by the love that flows from You
Full of wonder at the agony
Love suffered to set me free.

Oh what shame, what pain You washed away
What wonder and what Joy You bring today
The body of Your love shows no decay
For in power You have risen today.

And where, oh where are we in 1983
Watching an image of Your life on colour T.V.
Are we so lost, so blind, we just can’t see
Preferring darkness to the light that sets us free.

My heart gives thanks for the morning
Far brighter than the sun of any day
The brightness of Your love forever shining
Giving substance to the unseen footsteps of Your way.

Your eyes beheld me and filled with heartfelt pity
You drew me to Yourself in love's deep song
Delighting me with signs and wonders
Loosening my tongue to praise Your name.

I sing with eyes filled to overflowing
Of the glory of Your love poured out each day
To sing with heart felt wonder
That You love and keep me in Your way.