Lit Circle Blog 3

When is the Meaning of Faith Misunderstood?

The meaning of faith can be taken upon different ways. Faith can be determined by how you practice your beliefs or how much you rely on them. In the novel, Rain of Gold, Victor Villasenor demonstrates how faith was used to motivate these two families. Since the beginning of the book Lupe's and Juan's family have had a strong sense of faith. Although now you can tell which of them took a different reaction to their faith. As Juan goes through the hardships of making a living in the United States he collects his hardships had has one reason of blame, God. His mother brought him up to believe in the Almighty and have good faith in Him, because he would be their "savior." Juan looked at it as if he was convinced the Almighty would save him then why hasn't he and why did he have to go through the hardship. When he returned to his family from Montana Juan's view on faith towards the Almighty was non-existant compared to his belief that the Devil existed, since all he's gone through was hell and since that's what's he's been through that's what he believes exists. Where as, Lupe and her family have all their faith on the Almighty. When Sophia reunited with her family she told them her story of her hardship but her view on what she went through was different than Juan's. "She laughed, shaking her head, and Lupe realized that this was something that her family always seemed to do when they spoke of the terrible misfortunes they suffered. They didn't get angry or upset, like so many other Mexicans did; no, they smiled and laughed as if even these bad fates had been handed to them by a mischievous but good-hearted God" (241). Lupe's family does not blame and are outraged with God but laugh and have that optimism that it happened for a good reason. The way the Juan reacts and the way Lupe's family reacts when they think of their suffering is based on how strong they can keep their faith, Lupe's family stayed together while Juan sold himself and like his mother said, "'That's not on your own. That's alone!...'" (227). Juan was alone and last his faith because there wasn't anyone there to keep him together except the surrounding of gambling, hustling, and alcohol.