Emergency Faith

Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Columnist

As a curious child growing up, I would take notice of the little red fire alarm boxes mounted on school building walls. This curiosity was before smoke detectors and fire sprinklers. These boxes were shaped like the old outdoor fire alarm boxes. These emergency sentinels all had the same characteristics: A small hammer-like device on a chain mounted on the side, an inside handle covered by glass with these words printed in red: In Case Of Emergency Break Glass. While I was never in a building where a fire caused someone to break the glass and pull the handle, it was comforting to know that the little red fire alarm box was there to be used to summon help in case the need arose.

Three good friends, mentees, and “daughters” called me within the same week with dire health emergencies. I prayed for each sister, mother, and wife as earnestly as I could in the moment. As I prayed, I saw my friends in my mind’s eye. I was in touch with their fear as words spilled out deep within. I fought hard not to allow my mounting fear to be heard in my voice. I wanted to be strong; I had to be present; I had to have faith.

Many people talk about faith as if they have faith. It is important to note that faith, for many people, is an existential concept until one is in a situation where faith is needed. It is easy to take faith for granted or relegate faith to the high back shelf of the mind. Faith for folk who have never been in deep trouble can be thought of as the last refuge of the desperate, alongside hope. It is not my intention to convince anyone to have faith, especially if there is no faith in faith. But, just in case someone wants to understand faith, needs faith, or wants to take a deeper faith dive, here are several little red fire alarm box and faith analogies:

1. Faith may not be as visible as a wall-mounted fire alarm box or, more currently, a smoke detector, but it is always at the ready in case of an emergency.

2. Faith must be activated. In other words, something, usually unexpected, happens that initiates the need for a faith response.

3. Faith has an inside handle called prayer. The hammer must break the glass of fear and doubt to sound the alarm.

4. Faith is the belief that once the handle of prayer is pulled, an alarm will sound, and a response will occur.

When I saw the little red fire alarm box, I never questioned whether it would work. I assumed it would do what it was designed to do if the handle were pulled. It is possible and quite human to question if our Emergency Faith alarm will be heard in time. It is important to know there is trouble—and then there is