Having a Little Faith

Post #27

The other night, I read Mitch Albom’s latest book, Have a Little Faith, in one sitting.  Albom's previous work, Tuesdays with Morrie, became a movie and a great topic of conversation.  His new book has also met with wide acclaim for his thoughtful and compelling writing.

Have a Little Faith chronicles Albom's experiences getting to know two religious leaders.  One, the rabbi from Albom's synagogue, had led a congregation for many decades, working to educate and inspire families, trying to keep them connected to their faith.  The other, a pastor in Detroit whose younger life included drugs, violence, and prison, dedicated his life to saving others, providing food and shelter to those in need.

I couldn't put the book down; it was heart-warming to “meet” these two religious leaders, who were so different from those portrayed in the media.  There is no embezzlement, no stories of infidelity or hypocrisy--just tales of love, faith, and a commitment to helping those less fortunate.  They each reached out to others by offering trust and hope.

As an early board member of the Faith & Politics Institute, I, too, was privileged to work with people who used their spiritual beliefs to make a difference in public life.  Rather than judging or condemning others, they relied on gentle insights to help focus their own work in service to others.

Albom was fortunate to know such great men. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had more religious leaders like Rabbi Albert Lewis and Pastor Henry Covington to inspire us with their modesty and dedication?  Surely they are all around us, but they don’t receive adequate recognition for their life’s commitment to helping others.

I would love to hear from you, dear Blog reader!  How important is faith to your daily life?  Would you like to share your experiences with your faith leader(s)?  Please send an email to Blog@CherylKagan.org or click on the "Comments" link below to express your views.  Please be sure to indicate which post (#27) you're addressing.

Thanks for reading.  I will post again soon.