"It is often said that with 'faith', any struggle we encounter in life is possible! What faith does essentially, is that it maximises the most positive outcome of the possibilities. For example, I have a terminal illness and my faith in God and positive attitude towards life itself will not necessarily alter my terminal condition, but will, I believe both extend my life for as long as possible and provide me with the physical and emotional strength to carry on living and help me die in some measure of peace. In some respects therefore, modesty aside, faith can often be man's reason that has grown courageous the less he considers the outcome.
We all know that dawn each day is marked by the morning chorus of birdsong. I like to think of my faith as being like the bird that sings when dawn is dark. Since my terminal illness, three years ago, I have effectively been walking in the dark. Acknowledging my condition and its inevitable consequences was, in many ways like taking the first step on an uncharted journey into the future. I know that many of my family and friends see my response to my three body cancers my body now carries, (blood, skin and stomach) as being somewhat courageous, like the quiet cousin of courage, I prefer to view my faith more pragmatically.
Over the years, my faith has undoubtedly strengthened; my faith in self, family, friends, others and God. As faith has strengthened, I no longer need to have a sense of control. I merely need to exercise common sense and sound judgement. I know that what will be will be and if I don't try to resist these changes in my life, I will be able to flow with them and not drowned in the process. I also know that the more I can make my life be involved with life and others today, the greater the likelihood that I will see a tomorrow.
So, have faith my friends and stay realistic in your expectations. Know that there is a life that you control largely and influence, but that there is also a life that is beyond your control. So, have faith and believe in the goodness of oneself, for faith never did promise to make things easy; just possible." William Forde: January 18th, 2017.