Lisa Boyl-Davis, LICSW
Nov 1 · 2 min read

Dear Saintly Jennifer,

I loved this challange. For me, faith, like the breath I am just now taking in is a gift from God. When I lack faith I tell God and the telling it to God increases my faith somehow. This way of thinking about faith reminds me of what I teach my clients in couples counseling — the practice of turning toward when one has hurt the other, turning toward when the preference would be to run out door with a slam, turn toward even when ‘I’m not in love with you anymore’. Turning toward because love is not a feeling, it’s an action. We do this with our kids. We turn toward and act lovingly even when they’re throwing fits. We don’t say ‘I’m not in love with you anymore’, we act in love because love is action.

The beauty built inside a relationship when the couple learns to turn toward inspires me. The relationship becomes playful and honest at the same time, tender and protective and solid. That’s what happens when I turn toward God when I’d rather dismiss His/Her very notion… when I do, faith arrives and bonds us. The daily interchange between God and I becomes something very real. I agree with myself that it’s less about what I know about God, less about how I do things just right or think of a thing rightly, and more about what God gives me.

Keep writing. You inspired me this morning.

Sincerely,

Another Who Attempts Faith and Writing

PS What is your book about? I’ve been working on a book for 6 years — so far to go…

    Lisa Boyl-Davis, LICSW

    Written by

    My name is Lisa. I am a trauma and couples therapist, love to write, sing, hike, pray, bike, and accidently burn food too often… www.ameliacponder.com