Living in Terrible Times

By Klaus Döring

Living through a pandemic, natural disasters, racial discrimination, and the sporadic adversities that accompany everyday life, it can often feel as if you are losing your faith. You might not only lose faith in the higher power you worship, but you might also feel a loss of faith in humanity, loved ones, or yourself.

Many people experience feelings like this, especially when it feels like you have no control over what is going on in your life and the world around you. It is when we are consumed by all the uncertainties of life that faith is needed most, but also when it’s the most difficult to grasp. It’s definitely easier to have faith when everything is going well, but it’s a lot more challenging when things are not.

That is why it is important for us to recognize when we start having these feelings and work toward reestablishing or holding on to our faith, especially during troubling times.

It is possible that a variety of things in your life are causing you to feel a loss of faith. Whether it is stress, trauma, grief, or just feeling a disconnect from God and the world around you, it is important to assess these emotions.

Feeling lost, uneasy, and withdrawn happens to the best of us, sometimes at the most unexpected times. Although one does not always have control over what is going on in the world around them or even situations happening in their own lives, they do have authority over how they perceive and react to these experiences.

To be or not to be. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: Without faith, we’re really nothing.

Faith is belief; belief in ourselves, in our work, talents, and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents—or better yet, in our whole family, including the black sheep, who can be found everywhere.

We should believe in our friends, even though it seems to become very difficult many times.

Please remember, my dear readers: Without faith, we will reach rock bottom. Don’t say, “It’s a likely story.”

The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759–1815) mentioned in his drama Maria Stuart: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!” Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians who were undergoing persecution for—or because of—their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody’s thing, or “not everyone has faith.”

Faith is tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813–1883) wrote the following lyric: “Blessed are those people who know how to live their life in humility and faith.”

So, let’s even continue believing in our governments or the institutional church. Faith also means belief, especially in a revealed religion. Faith is trust or reliance. Faith is indeed a pledged word. Yes, I know.

Faithful love is loyal, reliable, exact, and honorable love. Faithful love means even to love your enemy.

To live in the moment and be happy, practice mindfulness, focus on your breath, engage in activities you enjoy, and cultivate gratitude. Reduce distractions, appreciate the present, and let go of worries about the past or future.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .