This is the first in a 5 part series about rediscovering and strengthening your faith. While we each grow up in a different environment, we all learn about traditions, family values, and cultural practices. We may even be raised in a household with specific religious beliefs. Then, as adults, we have the opportunity to make our own decisions about what we choose to believe based on all we’ve learned growing up.

That brings to mind a question whose answer could limit our behavior based on what’s happening around us. Is what we believe religion or faith? Religion is really more about rules and practices while faith reaches to the core of what you believe about your creation, your life, and even your own mortality. During challenging times, it’s common to question your faith by exploring what you truly believe. With the uncertain times we’re living in right now, I know I’m even exploring my own faith.

I’m not sharing my thoughts and perspectives to praise or criticize anyone’s beliefs. I’ll use my own road as an example of how to navigate the journey on your way to finding your faith. Over the next five months I want to encourage you to explore five unique elements of faith that will help you clarify what you believe and give you the confidence to live your life in genuine response to those beliefs.

Part 1: FOUNDATION

In the late 1990’s I had the tremendous opportunity to travel to Mexico City to conduct some technical training. To help me navigate the city, the brother of our receptionist in that office agreed to be my driver for the week. On one of my days off, he was my personal tour guide as we explored the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (The National Museum of Anthropology). I learned so much about different cultures that day. Yet, nothing could have prepared me for one of my most adventurous life experiences and the powerful insight it provided.

On my last day in Mexico City, my driver arrived early in the morning. Since my flight wasn’t until much later in the day, we were headed to the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon located about an hour outside the city.

Alone, I climbed almost to the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. Once I reached the top of the stairs, and stood on the landing, I peered up at the top. There were no stairs, no railings, no ropes, and no clearly worn path to guide my journey. I stood there feeling defeated. Isn’t that just like life? We encounter situations that seem too difficult to overcome, so we stop in our tracks. Not sure of what to do or how to handle the situation, we may just give up. I didn’t climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.

Once I made my way back down, my guide and I actually climbed to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. We used stairs, railings, and ropes to help reach the top. As we sat up there, my guide explained how and why these pyramids were built. They arranged a border of bricks, and then filled it with rocks and mud. Once it was dry, they added the next border of bricks, and again filled it with rocks and mud. They repeated that process until they were finished. There is a summit at the top, so the priests of that day could go up there to, “be closer to their god”.

By comparison, the Egyptian pyramids are hollow, so the kings could be buried with all they needed for the afterlife. While the tombs are actually below ground, the above ground structure also points to the sky and to their god. For the record, it is illegal to climb the Egyptian pyramids.

As I sat there looking down from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, it hit me. How we live our lives can be reflected in the analogy of the pyramids. If you spend your life accumulating stuff, two things happen. First, you focus your time, energy, and resources on getting more stuff. Can you take it with you? That depends on your beliefs.

Second, since we’re talking about faith, if you fill your life with too much stuff, you leave little if any room for God. You have family, friends, work, leisure, and so many other things. If you have so much, yet you still feel lost or empty, maybe it’s time to refill your life starting with God.

I grew up in a Catholic household. We went to church on Sunday mornings. Once I was old enough, I volunteered for a variety of roles during Sunday services. On Sunday evenings, we had big family dinners with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Those traditions helped to build my foundation.

Barb and I grew up with slightly different religious backgrounds, but we shared our faith as Christians. While dating, we went to church together. At our wedding, we even had a pastor from her church and a priest from mine. In our marriage we combined the perspectives we each brought from our families, our upbringing, our religious differences, and our shared values to the table to create the next layer of the foundation for our own kids.

How you were raised, what you were taught at home or in school, and the cultures to which you’ve been exposed have all in some way helped to build a foundation for your faith. Start by reflecting on that. If you aren’t sure about your faith, have conversations with people you trust, and ask questions to gain perspective regarding different beliefs.

Based on my beliefs, my life is empty without God. I know I’m not perfect and that I’ve made mistakes. However, I also believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins, so I ask for forgiveness and I commit to making room in my life and in my heart for God. I choose to put God first.

Then, I add my family, friends, church, and job. Oh, and yes, there is still plenty of room for other things in my life that I enjoy. Being truly happy with what you have is to be content. You don’t want more or need more. What you have is enough.

If you want to establish or strengthen your faith foundation, spending focused time alone with God is the best place to start. Like those ancient priests who climbed the Pyramid of the Sun, how can you find ways to get closer to God? How can you spend time getting to know Him?

For example, I read my Bible to learn more about God. I pray to praise God for who He is, thank God for all he provides, share my needs, and request blessings or healing for others in my life and people around the world. I try to do that first thing in the morning, so I’m not distracted by the stuff of the day. It also puts me in the right frame of mind to navigate my day.

Just like the Pyramid of the Sun, every strong relationship begins with a solid foundation. What is the foundation of your faith? Based on your spiritual life, how can you establish or strengthen your foundation? Start by making room in your life for that relationship. Your faith will be seen through you, and through how you live.