Where God ain’t

This came in a recent email. Thought you might enjoy the childlike simplicity.

He was just a little boy,
On a week’s first day.
Wandering home from Bible school,
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
And blew out all the filler.

A bird’s nest in a tree overhead,
Wisely placed so high.
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zigzag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he’d been that day
And what was going on.

“I’ve been to Bible School,”
He said and turned a piece of sod.
And, picking up a wiggly worm,
“I’ve learned a lot about God....”

“Mmm very fine way,” the neighbor said,
“for a boy to spend his time.”
“If you’ll tell me where God is,
I’ll give you a brand new dime.”

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
“I’ll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain’t."

Oneness finds expression

Animals teach us so much. Dogs teach me to give God my whole heart, joyfully, unconditionally, trustingly. I can do this because God is good, and I can trust Him/Her with my heart.

The video below illustrates what’s called bridle-less reining. It means the horse has no hardware – no bridle, saddle, not even a loop around her neck.

It looks to me like horse and rider are working at a high level of teamness. Clearly the rider is not “controlling” the horse in the usual sense. She is communicating, giving Roxy cues to which she responds. Roxy anticipates her cues and executes the actions immediately. It looks to me like the horse twirls, canters, changes leads, gallops, and stops because she wants to, not because she has to.

Jesus said, “I and my Father are one.” I realize this is most often interpreted to say Jesus is God. But what if he meant – and this is a reasonable, though not literal, interpretation – one in quality, one in purpose, one in action?

This horse/rider team move as one. Everything they do is oneness. What she thinks, Roxy does. They remind me that giving our hearts to an infinitely good God without reservation allows us to learn how to move in perfect harmony with His/Her plan for us.

As we learn to recognize the cues, our responses are more timely.

I’m not there yet. Sometimes I discover reservations hiding in the background. These become opportunities for honest soul-searching, honest prayer-time with God.

Always there is the sparkling example of Jesus’ oneness with His Father – the life of “him who went about the Syrian hillsides doing good and casting demons out.” John Greenleaf Whittier.

And the contemporary example, below, of how oneness can look.

How to live - concisely

Live simply

Someone sent an email, and these words were tucked away at the bottom:

Live simply
Love generously
Care deeply
Speak kindly
Leave the rest to God.

There's a lot of wisdom here.

To live simply is to not be possessed by our possessions.

To live generously is to share good freely.

To care deeply is to be where we are needed, and to know when silent comfort may mean more than words.

To speak kindly is to love enough to curb sharp words and replace them with encouragement.

If we do this, we will be good Christians, good Jews, good Muslims, good agnostics even. This is because while people look at physical attributes, God looks into our hearts, finds the good there, and strengthens it.

It sheds another dimension on the above advice to take your favorite concept of God -- such as Truth, Love, Allah, Higher Power, Light, Source of all goodness, Creator -- and substitute that term for God.

Such as, "Live simply. . . and leave the rest to Truth."

He saw God the other day

I have as a goal finding elements of God's nature in everyone I meet. Some days I do better than others.

Someone sent this YouTube of a talented young musician with the same goal.





See how you connect with Victor Wooten's message.

Waterfall Glen and Principle

Controlled burn allows

sunlight to reach the forest floor --

even after the summer leaves appear.

As we walked the crushed limestone paths at Waterfall Glen, my sister made a startling announcement. “Look at all this!” her gesture took in the pond of very vocal spring peepers, the pylons carrying power lines next to a freight train track, and the forest we were about to enter. “God is so Principle.”

“Principle?”

“Umhmm,” she nodded.

Silence as I tried to figure out how this woman whom I love, admire, and respect, came up with Principle, of all things. “And what do you like about God as Principle?”

“Principle is like the big umbrella with everything else included under it. Principle is the structure that allows everything else to work harmoniously. It’s like the pylon that allows power to be delivered to where it’s needed.

It’s like the traffic lights. Everyone knows what the laws are – green you go, red you stop. When everyone obeys the laws, there is order. Not just for you, but for everybody. That's Principle. If somebody ignores the laws, whap! It isn’t that God is angry with you or is punishing you, you just have to obey the laws that are in place.”

We spotted a flicker working the top of a tall dead tree. With binoculars we marveled at his wonderful camouflage -- accented by his magnificent red head.

We marveled at the tidiness of the controlled burn areas. The tree trunks weren’t even scorched. The strangling buckthorn had been vanquished.

Is that what God as Principle does? Sets up a controlled framework that destroys whatever would thwart our spiritual progress – without harming us!

Another week of this weather, and spring wildflowers will dot the forest floors, responding to the warmth and sunlight.

Is that what God as Principle does? Arranges things so that we can thrive in the light of His love?

I’ll be thinking a lot more about God as Principle, and what that means.

More than sledding

Wheee!

In January my grandson and I had a great one-on-one vacation. We drove to the Wisconsin north woods to visit relatives and engage in great snow activities. We sledded, snowshoed, baked cookies in a happy extended family setting.

One day my cousin was supervising some sledding behind their house. I stood nearby, camera in hand, to catch some of this fun. I wasn’t participating in the sledding activity, became of a hurting back. I was praying, however -- from the standpoint that this pain was trying to suggest I could be separated from God’s love – a relationship I hold very dear. Or that God was too busy to care for every detail of His universe.

It wasn’t a prayer to God as a super person to stop what He was doing and look after me, so much as an affirmation that an infinitely good God who is Spirit and Truth infinitely maintains harmony. If God is wholly good and fills all space, then this pain could not be a reality in His presence. A loving God doesn’t send evil. He sends harmony.

Now at that point in my prayers, it occurred to me that I had been indulging in some pretty self-righteous criticism that morning. Right now, I have no idea what it might have been. But at the time it seemed important and troublesome.

Big deal! Who doesn’t criticize? Well, yes. Except that I had lately been making a fairly successful effort to see beyond the human scene. To discern more of God’s goodness and His good creation. So criticism now stood out by way of contrast as a backward step in a forward spiritual journey. This kind of negative thinking was no longer comfortable.

So I began undoing that criticism, replacing the “wrongs” I had been anguishing over with what was clearly right about the person or situation (while I don’t recall the specifics, I do remember the process!) appreciating the good qualities – what God knew from His vantage point to be enduring and true.

This happy mental conversation took place even with great laughter and fun punctuating the snowy scene all around. About midway down the hill, the boys were packing snow into a little jump for the sleds in hopes of gaining some “air time.”

My cousin clowning on a tube

Then my cousin said, “Sandi, why don’t you go down the hill? I’ll hold your camera!”

Moment of truth. Do I really believe that God, Spirit, is my whole substance and my only substance? That matter cannot make laws to undermine God’s harmonious control?

The feeling in my back hadn’t changed. It still hurt. But thought was moving, so I trusted God, divine Mind, as the source of that movement and settled onto the sled behind my grandson. We sped down the hill landing with a bump on the other side of the jump. And that was the last time all day that I thought about my back. In fact, it’s been uncomplaining ever since.

I just love adventures in learning more about God’s great love.

Truth - right side up

In this interesting YouTube are two perspectives of the Almighty. The first is a totally materialistic and pessimistic view. If accepted, we might all just give up. If God doesn't think we can make the world a better place, why even try?

The second, however, is clearly New Testament, the Good News of Jesus' life, works, and teachings. He showed men and women their spiritual nature, and God's nature as caring and nurturing.

In fact, speaking of the contrast between the material and spiritual views of life, American religious leader Mary Baker Eddy wrote: "Delusion, sin, disease, and death arise from the false testimony of material sense, which, from a supposed standpoint outside the focal distance of infinite Spirit, presents an inverted image of Mind and substance with everything turned upside down."

It's worth sticking with the video to the clever conclusion. See where your God fits in.

(Just double-click on the arrow below)

An "Aha!" Moment

I'd like to share an “aha” moment.

Writing a word of encouragement to his church community in Corinth, Paul says, “Agree with one another and live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Well, that makes sense. If we are living in agreement and peace, the One who originates harmony and peace would be present.

So, does it stand to reason that if we are living oppositely, in discord and strife, that the god of discord and strife would be present?

If our thoughts determine what we worship at any given moment, and I believe they do, then if we give voice to anger and resentment – would we be bowing down to them, worshipping anger or hate during such high adrenaline moments?

Expanding on Paul’s sweeter promise, we could conclude that as we live with beauty and goodness, then the God of beauty and goodness is with us. As we live with honesty and patience at the forefront of our thoughts and deeds, that God is with us.

We can choose, as best we know how, to live in agreement and peace with one another, being comforted and strengthened by the presence of that God with us. Of course the God of these good qualities is the same God as the God of other good qualities. Goodness originates from One infinite source.

The more consistent we are in backing off from reacting with anger and impatience, to making an honest effort to find solutions that promote harmony and peace with one another, the more consistently will we realize the immense caring of this universal God.

There is a God in the Post Office

This email has been making the rounds. And it is about unexpected kindness -- hearts speaking to hearts. This particular version arrived today, and the story follows:

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith ," in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:


Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

Twinkies and a generous heart

Someone sent this email story. It's a simple reminder that God can enter our lives in many ways when we are willing.

Although this encounter was clearly written about an earlier era when parents would not be alarmed if their children spent a day in the park with a stranger, the message is timeless. An honest act of generosity and acceptance can fill another's whole day with joy. And the blessing can, and should, be mutual.

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.

Three blocks away, he met an old man sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He noticed the old man looking hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. He gratefully accepted and smiled at the boy.

His smile so lit up his face that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, the man smiled and the boy was delighted. They sat most of the day, smiling and eating, and never saying a word.

As the shadows lengthened, the boy realized it was getting late, and he needed to go home, so he got up to leave. But before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to give the old man a hug. It was then that he received the biggest smile ever and felt the strongest, gentlest hug he'd ever received.

As he entered his home his mother asked, "What did you do today that makes you so happy? You're simply beaming!"

"I had lunch with God. You know what? He has the most beautiful smile I ever saw!"

Meanwhile, the old man was returning to his shelter, radiant with joy. Staffers noticed the look of peace and contentment on his face. "Where have you been; what have you done?" they asked.

And his answer was, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God. You know, he's much younger than I expected."

No limit to the good you can accomplish

One of the kids has a report to write on an American who has made a significant contribution to mankind. He knew his choice. So we went to the library today and checked out three books at his reading level -- on George Washington Carver.

As the boys played Legos nearby, I picked up one of the books and was reading it to myself.

Born probably during the American Civil War, infant George and his mother were snatched away by slave kidnappers, to be sold in another state. George was found and returned to his home, but his mother was never located. Despite overwhelming odds, and with the encouragement and faith of adult friends, this youngster was determined to learn, and his love was birds and plants.

Reading about his amazing life and brave decisions, I oohed and ahhed aloud. To the boys’ raised eyebrows, I explained George’s cleverness in securing his first job as a cook at the age of 13. They were hooked and settled in on the couch on either side of me. I continued reading aloud for the next couple of hours as they listened intently.

We heard the story of a child, a young man, and then an adult, who never gave up, who made the best of what he had, and often made the best even better. A man who loved nature. A man whose goal was to improve life first for his own people, and then for everyone else as well. His expertise became farming. And his practical contributions were hundreds and far-reaching.

We also heard the story of a man who was on intimate terms with his God. He had conversations with God, asked Him questions, listened carefully to the answers.

This God connection finally explained, for me, how he could accomplish so much good. Because I also believe that the source of all that is good is God. Yet this humble man teaches me that my questions to my Maker are mostly too small in scope. I need to ask more questions, broader questions, and to listen better for the answers.

To accomplish unlimited good, we must commune with an unlimited God. And not be afraid after asking the basic questions, to go forward with the answers we hear.

When you swerve to the right or left,
you hear a Voice behind you whispering,
"This is the way, walk here."
(Moffatt)

Does God have a sense of humor?

Does God have a sense of humor? For sure. How do I know? Because He/She makes me laugh all the time.

For example: driving in Chicago had not been my favorite thing – and, please note, I am putting that in past tense – primarily because city parking has often been a challenge.

I had registered for what promised to be a most interesting program – Hidden Treasures: The voices of women in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – hosted in downtown Chicago.

So, in my desire to support all things good and womanly, I looked for someone to come along, another set of eyes for locating a parking space. Plenty of interest in the topic, but no takers who were also registered for the event.

I prayed about my reluctance because I was tempted not to go. And the answer that came was Yes, go.

So I just gave it all to God. Something like, “God, since you want me to be part of this gathering tonight, I know you will take me all the way. You would not tell me to go and not provide parking.” I guess this mostly reassured me that I needed to quit grumbling and totally trust that higher power.

My Mapquest route favoring major expressways looked less promising as traffic crawled out of Chicago on the Stevenson – which to my mind should have been uncrowded on a Sunday afternoon.

The idea came to exit on Cermak and take local streets to the church where the event was being held. I had to trust that intuition, because leaving known highways for unknown side streets was pushing me out of my comfort zone.

Exiting the expressway turned out to be an excellent plan. I had to smile while thanking God, who I think of as one infinitely good Mind. When I reached the little residential street where the host church was located, you can imagine my total amazement to see men in orange reflective vests – helping people locate parking spaces on that street!

I was grinning from ear to ear. It was as if the Father (another name for God that’s meaningful to me) was saying, “So, you want help finding parking? Here they are, in bright orange vests!”

“OK, dear Father-Mother, I get it, I’m a believer! Thank you SO much for this sweet gift.”

God's love is expressed in joy and good humor that never puts anyone down, but thoughtfully or spontaneously lets us know God is with us, loving, guiding, rescuing us.

Where is God when bad things happen?

Watch the helpers

On a recent afternoon at Indiana Dunes State Park, my grandsons and their great-grand parents were caught on the beach by a brutal wind. It mercilessly hurled tiny stinging sand darts at every exposed living thing. It was so fierce the boys were crying as they all retreated through the woods for the shelter of the motor home (not an altogether bad alternative).

A few days later back at home, the boys and I were walking to the park for some batting practice. "Grandma, I don't believe in God anymore." This from the seven-year-old.

Grandma: "Oh?"

Seven year-old: "Yes. We were in that sandstorm and I asked God to make it stop, and He didn't.

Older brother: "Yes we prayed to God every way we knew how, and He didn't."

Grandma: "Hmm, yes, that's a tough one. But you made it safely back to shelter, didn't you."

Seven-year old, "Yes. But why does God make sandstorms?"

Grandma: "I don't believe he does."

Seven year old: "Then who does? The devil?"

Eight-year old: "There is no devil."

Seven-year old: "Yes there is! Isn't there Grandma?"

Grandma, evading for the moment the devil question, to address the more urgent issue of where God IS when bad things happen:

"Remember Hurricane Katrina (both boys nodded) that drowned so may people? There were a lot of folks praying then for it to stop or go away, and it just kept raining and blowing and flooding everything. Many were asking then, Where is God?"

We reached the pitcher's mound, deeply engaged in our theology. "But you know what? A lot of people came to help. Volunteers who didn't get paid, who just drove all the way down to New Orleans with food and water, and other supplies. Who took a week or two from their work, people like your mom and dad who just wanted to help those who had nothing.

"If you want to see where God is, watch the helpers, watch the care-givers."

This must have satisfied them, for we spent the next 1/2 hour pitching, batting, catching and mostly chasing balls.

C.S. Lewis, author of the Screwtape Letters, (though more likely known for “The lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”) wrote "I do not pray to change God. I pray that God would change me."

I think Lewis had it right. That’s a prayer I can identify with. Not asking God for things. Asking God to change us, to mold us to His purpose, shape us to His plan. Of course this assumes one knows and trusts his God, to shape a good, useful, and generous purpose for the one who prays. It assumes God knows better than we do what will bless us, give meaning to our lives, and make the world a better place at the same time.

“Consistent prayer is the desire to do right.”

Mary Baker Eddy

What is God like?

A friend sent this today.

The challenge to the kids was to come up with TV commercials in which you can substitute God for what the product promises to do. How well did they do? You decide.

____________________________________

What God is like – thanks to

television commercials from the 80s

God is like... BAYER ASPIRIN
He works miracles.

God is like... A FORD
He's got a better idea.

God is like.. COKE
He's the real thing.

God is like... HALLMARK
He cares enough to send His very best.

God is like... TIDE
He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

God is like... GENERAL ELECTRIC
He brings good things to life.

God is like... SEARS
He has everything.

God is like... ALKA-SELTZER
Try him, you'll like Him.

God is like... SCOTCH TAPE
You can't see him, but
He’s holding everything together.

God is like... DELTA
He's ready when you are.

God is like... ALLSTATE
You're in good hands with Him.

God is like... VO-5 Hair Spray
He holds through all kinds of weather.

God is like... DIAL SOAP
Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wisheverybody did?

God is like... The U.S. POST OFFICE
Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor ice willkeep Him from His appointed destination.