Trait of the Month for August, 2005 Faith

Have Faith!

The character trait for the month of August is "faith". Above all the other character traits utilized by the City of Character Program, faith is probably the most misunderstood. This is true because the word faith immediately conjures up images of religious meanings that the connotation brings to mind.

But au contrarie. Faith is a concept that is immersed in the practical waters of everyday events and duties. When we rise in the morning and prepare for work, we have faith that our mode of transportation will get us there in a timely manner. When we use our stove to prepare breakfast, we have faith that our stove will operate properly and will not explode. As we arrive at our places of employment, we have faith that we are still needed.

As I reflect on the leadership and educational opportunities in Pine Bluff, I see excellent reasons to have faith in the future. When I consider the Chamber of Commerce and those individuals who make up its membership, I see talented, dedicated people who are working hard to make Pine Bluff a better city. I see a Mayor who is energetic and is devoted to improvements. I see business owners and investors who are committed to our beloved city for the foreseeable future.

With the exercise of faith in our leaders and our people, even our challenges become opportunities. Through faith, our response to criticism of city leadership may be, that "our present leadership can take us there." Through faith, our response to negative and fear-ridden rumors about the possible sell of International Paper may be, "although our beloved IP has been a wonderful partner and neighbor, I can't wait to see what opportunities lie ahead for the mill and for the City of Pine Bluff." Through faith, our response to accusations of incompetence directed toward our public schools may be, "I know of several classes in the public schools whose students scored at the 90th percentile on national achievement tests. All we need is to find ways to emulate our success stories."

Faith causes people with resources to survey the possibilities in Pine Bluff and its surrounding areas in a positive way and to visualize fantastic results. Faith sees the glass as half full and engenders excitement at the prospect of wholeness.

My friends, Pine Bluff is a success story just waiting to be written. It is up to us to provide the details. By faith we will produce a narrative that exudes hope and a concrete plan for success.

Dr. Phil Shirley, President

Southeast Arkansas College

Some famous quotes on Faith:

• Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
  The faith that stands on authority is not faith .
  The Over-soul.
• Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
  Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.
  Address, Cooper Union, New York City, Feb. 27, 1860.
• James Russell Lowell (1819-1891)
  The only faith that wears well and holds its color in all weathers, is that which is woven of conviction and set with the sharp mordant of experience.
  My Study Windows. Abraham Lincoln, 1864.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546)
  A faith ful and good servant is a real godsend; but truly 't is a rare bird in the land.
  Table-Talk. clvi.
• Sir Lewis Morris (1833-1907)
  Call no faith false which e'er hath brought
  Relief to any laden life,
  Cessation to the pain of thought,
  Refreshment mid the dust of strife.
  Tolerance.
• New Testament
  Though I have all faith , so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
  1 Corinthians xiii. 2.
• New Testament
  And now abideth faith , hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
  1 Corinthians xiii. 13.
• New Testament
  We walk by faith , not by sight.
  2 Corinthians v. 7.
• New Testament
  He hath denied the faith , and is worse than an infidel.
  1 Timothy v. 8.
• New Testament
  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith .
  2 Timothy iv. 7.
• New Testament
  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
  Hebrews xi. 1.
• Plutarch (A.D. 46?-A.D. c. 120)
  He made one of Antipater's recommendation a judge; and perceiving afterwards that his hair and beard were coloured, he removed him, saying, “I could not think one that was faith less in his hair could be trusty in his deeds.”
  Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders. Philip.
• William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
  He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat.
  Much Ado about Nothing. Act i. Sc. 1.
• Sydney Smith (1771-1845)
  It is always right that a man should be able to render a reason for the faith that is within him.
  Lady Holland's Memoir. Vol. i. p. 53.
• Alexander Smith (1830-1867)
  The saddest thing that befalls a soul
  Is when it loses faith in God and woman.
  A Life Drama. Sc. 12.
• Alfred Tennyson Tennyson (1809-1892)
  There lives more faith in honest doubt,  
  Believe me, than in half the creeds.
  In Memoriam. xcvi. Stanza 3.
• John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892)
  When faith is lost, when honor dies
  The man is dead!
  Ichabod.

For more familiar quotes on Faith, see Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

Seark Home Page