'Have faith in me'

"In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:1-5, NAB).

A man and woman, looking backward at a barred gate, everything good it seems they've ever known behind it, only drudgery and the unknown before them. Then, a tiny stirring in their heart: "Have faith in me."

A man and a promise and an uprooting and a moving from his home, a leaving behind of his family: "Have faith in me."

A man with a life of luxury, a bush that wouldn't burn, an introduction, a new kind of leadership role he never expected: "Have faith in me."

A people enslaved, working long hours, physical labor, mistreated, under-appreciated, then told to pack up and escape to a better life as what enslaved them pursues them: "Have faith in me."

Then, 40 years of waiting: "Have faith in me."

A husband's death, a new people and God, a refusal to abandon her mourning mother-in-law: "Have faith in me."

A middle-aged woman, married too long to be hearing the news of a baby, a husband who doubts and can't talk, questions of what all this means. The tiny whisper: "Have faith in me."

A young girl, before she's married, pregnant, others' judgments, a long journey, no room, labor. The words: "Have faith in me."

A group of young men, one of their best friends dead, their hurt and regret at not proving loyal or showing their love to him more before. His whisper: "Have faith in me."

A man whose life work has been persecution in defense of what he believes is right, blindness, a call to what he persecuted: "Have faith in me."

A mom or dad, struggling to make ends meet: "Have faith in me."

A young person, unsure of their dreams: "Have faith in me."

A person whose loved one is sick: "Have faith in me."

Someone in prison, who feels like their life is wasted: "Have faith in me."

All of us, asking how peace is ever possible. A tiny stirring in our heart: "Have faith in me."

"And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the father's only son, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14, NAB).

A baby lying in a manger, arms up and out to the world, asking us to love him. The look in his eyes: "Have faith in me."