Fearless Faith

For the past 26 years an extra rider has accompanied us in one of our vehicles. It is in fact a small cartoonish plastic cricket from a fast-food children’s meal ordered from a drive thru in mid-summer 1988. There is no rhyme or reason to have kept it other than to humor our kids and whimsically reflect on our time together. Long after the cricket’s built-in chirp faded. we still found ourselves reluctant to give it up. It had grown on us. Through no real effort on our part, we had an honest to goodness talisman on our hands.

One definition of a talisman is any small object or item we consider to be a lucky charm of sorts, not only bringing luck, but also providing a sense of inspiration. Specific descriptions are at the mercy of the import that people place on them. Is it just part of a full and well-rounded life that we engage such entertainments, or does it simply reflect the playful side of human nature? Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder; for every argument extolling the virtues of owning a lucky rabbit’s foot, there are others that remind us that it is lucky for all except the rabbit.

How do we view religious artifacts, symbolism, rites and related religiosities? Some elements are so deeply embedded in faith that they become integral to it, in lockstep with what we have been taught. Others involve embracing the possible sacred character of relics while not wishing to defame their nature. Relics of the cross, frequently represented by wooden fragments, have been dutifully preserved by believers for centuries, carefully conserved as religious talismans. So many have been preserved that if they were re-integrated with all others that are known, more than a few crosses would result. That is no flippant observation, but rather a reminder of the importance of connectedness as faith becomes more fully informed. Yes, we should treat such objects with the reverence and respect they deserve, but we should also avoid idolizing them as we would any object, including the Bible itself and its more than 150 versions, translations and paraphrases.

So, there it is. Each of us have those certain items we are attached to for various reasons, the kind of things that we would be sad to lose or misplace. Do we believe them to contain magic that brings good luck? Some do, perhaps. But more than that, we believe them to represent touchstones in our lives that are consistent and pleasant. Is there a particular stone or natural wonder that fits the bill? Many are the result of intentional working of the piece, including those made of metal, rock, or wood. Often, it is the beauty of the piece that it is representative of the culture of the time.

Considering the above-mentioned cricket, I am not quite clear whether to embrace or deride its cultural roots. In the meantime, it remains constantly quietly vigilant on the dash of the truck, a talisman whose reliable presence says a lot without uttering a single obnoxious chirp. We could stand to learn a few things from such examples.