“to accept something as true, genuine, or real. ideals we believe in. believes in ghosts. : to have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion : to regard the existence of God as a fact.”

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believe

Below is a 500-word essay I wrote on October 27, 2010 for “This I Believe.” “Believe” is an international project engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives.

More than 90,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, are archived on their website, heard on public radio (The Bob Edwards Show), chronicled through their books, and featured in weekly pod-casts.

The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow.

I would encourage others to take the time and write an essay stating what you believe. It is my belief that you will grow from the experience.

This I Believe

 

Believe is defined as “confidence in the truth or existence of something without absolute proof one is right in doing so.”  With that definition, I’m reminded of one of our nation’s greatest philosophers, Crash Davis, played by Kevin Costner in the 1988 movie, Bull Durham.

 

Crash believed in the inherent goodness found in “the small of a woman’s back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, and good scotch.” He commented that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and that a constitutional amendment is needed outlawing AstroTurf. Crash also believed opening presents on Christmas Eve was absurd, and kisses should be “long, slow, deep, soft, wet” and “last for three days.”

 

 I agreed with much of what Crash said; who could proudly argue for the elimination of AstroTurf and that “long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days” aren’t wonderful, especially when looking into the eyes of Susan Sarandon. Costner charmed us with his witty monologue and delivery, but it was the simple fact his character believed in something that reflected thought that gave many reasons to pause.

 

Stuart Chase, an American economist, commented, “For those who believe, no proof is necessary.” For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.” I agree.

 

What I believe is what I believe. And what I believe is parents ruin youth sports, marijuana should remain illegal, and term limits for elected officials are needed. I believe all should arrive in this country legally, learn English once here, and register to vote. I believe Pee-Wee Herman is a comedic genius that I wouldn’t allow to babysit my children, uniforms should be mandatory in public schools, and that Geoffrey Canada should win the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

I believe our country is best served when Vice President Biden isn’t heard, Vice President Cheney isn’t seen, and Vice President Gore isn’t heard or seen. I believe coaches get too much blame when their team loses, too much praise when they win, and too much money in both instances.

 

But with many beliefs, it’s my faith in God sending His only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for my sins that sustain me; because of this, I have peace and eternal salvation. I believe in God’s greatest commandment and commission to “love my enemy” and “to spread the gospel,” and because of these beliefs, I have no desire to politicize my faith.

 

I also believe those around me are better served if I live out my faith in deed, not word, realizing my faith doesn’t give me the license to judge a woman’s right to choose or a man’s desire to marry another man. What my faith does provide is the ability to agree to disagree without being disagreeable and the realization that you can never argue another one into believing what you believe.

 

In the end, I do believe “You attract more bees with honey than you do with vinegar” and that people would rather see a sermon than hear one.

 

This, I believe

“We are what we believe we are”

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– C.S. Lewis