It was my second year of studying Theology that my faith broke.

As a knowledge seeker, someone obsessed with learning (probably why teaching seems to be a good fit), the material was breaking me down. Every preconceived notion I held was shattered.

For me, faith was over.

And then it slowly rebuilt, but in a more mature way. It felt more solid, despite being chaotic in the way it was coming back together.

Then during my graduate work, a fellow student remarked the goal of a good school of Religion is to break you down and force you to rebuild. I had never thought about it that way.

Since that time, my own religious understanding has broken and rebuilt several times.

Each time it comes back stronger, but less certain. In fact, it’s the uncertainty itself that makes it strong… and the only reason it keeps breaking is because of a belief that certainty is even needed.

It seems to be the reason why all of us break at some point: the things we know for sure are the very things that come undone.

But when they do, it’s a grand moment to rebuild them again—because they come back in a grand way.