The following note is based on a message by Rufus Jones.

The world peculiarly needs today the constructive and prophetic service of religion. When it's vital and creative, it brings us up into relation with God. It dignifies and ennobles us through that relationship. It expels cynicism through faith and hope and justifiable expectation. It releases energies of life, and turns sunsets into sunrises. It gives marching power to those who are torchbearers. Religion can be a profound source of ideal vision.

I once heard someone referred to as a serene and adventurous spirit. These are the two qualities we need. There are persons who are serene, but not adventurous, and those who are adventurous but not serene. We need this fusion and balance in a single life.

It is just this combination -- seeing religion as constructive and prophetic service, and balancing our serene and adventurous aspects -- that has the potential to anchor us and support our activism, to help us act out of love and focus, while at the same time take real risks and cope with anger. This can give us the power not to doubt; it can provide us the power to believe.