All good things come from God. This includes the overtly spiritual things like Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, works of mercy, etc; it also includes a warm summer day, spring rain, doing a good job at work, appreciating a good meal, laughing at a good joke. God is in all of it. Looking for God in all of these things--looking for God in *all things*-- is the beginning of making everything we do a prayer.
I like when you say "Savoring Creation (both the vast and the detailed)". It's a reminder that even in a big, beautiful Cathedral, a craftsman took the effort to carve a little artistic notch on a column in the back row. We can appreciate the big picture and the details within it--just as God does.
As the Pandemic was warming up, I was in the process of leaving the church we started going to in 2005. Had I known in 2005 that it was a Missouri Lutheran church I would not have gone through the door. By the time we'd been there for three Sundays, I knew I was being Led. The Pastor was a great teacher. In 2008 I learned it was a Republican church. I could deal with that--I'd voted that way for a lot of years... until George W. and "preemptive strike"
When the Orange Cheeto came on the election scene, I found that people in the congregation were willing to ignore stuff they never would have allowed their children to do. I [think-no proof] that skin color had something to do with. And then COVID came in, and the congregation was listening to the guy who lied about everything. Since they were ignoring the problem, I stopped going to church. Close to 50 years of Sundays.
My conclusion has a lot to do with the movie Arrival. The story is about seeing life in a totally different manner. I've long believed that Creator has known EVERYTHING about us since the beginning of Creation. We do not have the ability to surprise Creator [when people use the God word, I'm never sure what they mean]; if we cannot surprise Creator, our physical ending has already been Seen. Consequently the whole idea of becoming Saved is a very simplistic view of Creator and the Universe.
I understand the language. I think Creator is very patient with his foolish children. Like the Prodigal Son that we all, in our own ways, are.
All good things come from God. This includes the overtly spiritual things like Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, works of mercy, etc; it also includes a warm summer day, spring rain, doing a good job at work, appreciating a good meal, laughing at a good joke. God is in all of it. Looking for God in all of these things--looking for God in *all things*-- is the beginning of making everything we do a prayer.
I like when you say "Savoring Creation (both the vast and the detailed)". It's a reminder that even in a big, beautiful Cathedral, a craftsman took the effort to carve a little artistic notch on a column in the back row. We can appreciate the big picture and the details within it--just as God does.
Good and thoughtful post, thank you!
Blessedly true! It is all God, and we just don't see it - the hot bath, the stupid squirrels, chocolate, sneezing - wonderful piece!
Beautiful!
Ever since the Chariots of Fire movie I can only read Eric Liddell’s quote in a Scottish accent.
I loved it. And I shared it!
Without writing a novel...merely a short story
As the Pandemic was warming up, I was in the process of leaving the church we started going to in 2005. Had I known in 2005 that it was a Missouri Lutheran church I would not have gone through the door. By the time we'd been there for three Sundays, I knew I was being Led. The Pastor was a great teacher. In 2008 I learned it was a Republican church. I could deal with that--I'd voted that way for a lot of years... until George W. and "preemptive strike"
When the Orange Cheeto came on the election scene, I found that people in the congregation were willing to ignore stuff they never would have allowed their children to do. I [think-no proof] that skin color had something to do with. And then COVID came in, and the congregation was listening to the guy who lied about everything. Since they were ignoring the problem, I stopped going to church. Close to 50 years of Sundays.
My conclusion has a lot to do with the movie Arrival. The story is about seeing life in a totally different manner. I've long believed that Creator has known EVERYTHING about us since the beginning of Creation. We do not have the ability to surprise Creator [when people use the God word, I'm never sure what they mean]; if we cannot surprise Creator, our physical ending has already been Seen. Consequently the whole idea of becoming Saved is a very simplistic view of Creator and the Universe.
I understand the language. I think Creator is very patient with his foolish children. Like the Prodigal Son that we all, in our own ways, are.