What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,  and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
_{James 2:14-17 NLT}

“Let me say it again,” my pastor said, “Action is the fruit of faith.”

My translation goes something like this:

Moving is the fruit of faith.

Big moves.
planned and prepared
life all packed up in a box
the soft click of a door’s final close.

Traumatic moves.
never expected
life all soot and ashes
nothing left to carry with you.

Disorienting moves.
no map to show the way
life all chaos and swirling
unsure how to pray.

Like Abraham leaving
David singing
Naomi returning
Isaiah’s yearning

Mary’s yes
Peter’s preaching
Paul’s writing
Stephen’s dying

Moving
however it arrives
becomes an invitation
for faith to thrive.

---

Over the past few years, I’ve moved A LOT. From my home of twenty-five years to the upstairs of my brother’s house. From there to this place with a view of water that I’m learning to call home. I’ve moved friends, and what was left of the business we closed.

In our recent, unexpected stint in ICU we moved from the most critical care floor to one floor up. Still critical but not “as critical.” Then from the ICU to a regular room, however regular that can be. The thing I noticed each time we moved is the stirring of angst in me. It doesn’t take long to get comfortable. Even if the comfort is provided by heart rate alarms and nurses entering all hours of the night and day. Truth is, part of me wanted to stay right where we were. It felt safe and secure. Almost familiar.

I guess that’s why my pastor’s quote keeps returning. Because faith without movement is no faith at all. And all I’ve ever really wanted is more and more faith. So I move. At least that’s what seems to be the pattern. Most days there’s no plan or way to prepare. Any inkling I have of control is an illusion.

So move I will. Step by step. Day by day. For I’m convinced that this is God’s invitation to see with eyes of faith.

Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.
_{James 2:21-24 NLT}