Fuzzy Faith?

In his final report as Leader of the Corrymeela Community in April 2003, Trevor Williams wrote: "We must not settle for a fuzzy faith that produces warm feelings, but refuses to embrace the hard realities of life. So, with faith comes doubt, exploration and movement, living in a dialogue ...." Williams is right that we need to get on with the nitty gritty of life - and so be effective. Fuzziness that makes us complacent is unhelpful. However, I do wonder if we sometimes need to be a little blurred round the edges, not so blurred that we don't know what or who we are, but sufficiently blurred that we are open and welcoming to all the searchers who wander our way. How many of today's churches would be openly welcoming to Zacchaeus or Mary Magdalene? I firmly agree with the comment that doubt, exploration and movement are all part of faith and I find each of those ways of approaching faith quite challenging - but it's a challenge we need.