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Frederick Buechner is on my mind probably because of our Sunday School class entitled, Buechner 101. But if you also read his work and sermons, it's easy to see why he might stay on your mind.

Frederick Buechner, a renowned author and theologian, once said, "Faith is different from theology because theology is reasoned, systematic, and orderly, whereas faith is disorder, disruption, and surprise." Buechner's words invite us to look beyond tidy religious explanations, to the often messy and surprising reality of faith in the world.

 

Theology gives us structure. It outlines beliefs, categorizes ideas, and creates a framework for understanding the divine. It's helpful, even necessary, but it can sometimes feel confining. Faith, on the other hand, bursts those boundaries. Faith is in the unexpected kindness of a stranger, or the resilience of a community amidst tragedy.

 

Take the current conflicts we see in the world – the raw political divides within countries, the relentless violence between Israel and Hamas, the brutal invasion of Ukraine.  These situations defy simplistic theological explanations. They are a painful testament to the brokenness of humanity and the ever-present struggle between good and evil.

 

In such circumstances, where neat theological arguments crumble, it's faith that offers a glimmer amidst the darkness. Faith manifested in the humanitarian worker risking their life to assist refugees. Faith found in the fierce resistance of those fighting for freedom. Faith revealed in the countless small acts of love and support that bloom even in the soil of war.

 

Faith isn't about ignoring the harsh realities of the world, or hoping for simple, feel-good answers. It's about acknowledging the disorder and disruption, and still choosing hope.  Faith is believing that even when justice seems distant, even when peace feels impossible, goodness persists.

 

Perhaps the most radical act of faith lies in holding on to compassion within conflicts. Can we extend understanding, if not forgiveness, to those whose actions we deplore? Can we look beyond labels and ideologies to see the shared humanity in those designated as enemies? It's not an easy task and may feel like foolishness, but it's in these moments of radical compassion that we see glimmers of true faith.

 

It may be tempting to retreat into the comfort of our theological constructs, where arguments and beliefs feel safe and predictable. But faith, at its core, is risky and challenging. It pushes us out of our comfort zones, into the messy realities of life –  into places of conflict, uncertainty, and pain. Faith dares us to believe in something greater than ourselves, even when it defies all reason or logic.

 

Theology has its place, but faith – the unyielding and sometimes surprising faith – is what ultimately has the power to transform lives and even begin to heal a broken world.