Do you view your God like you view your father? Interesting question, isn't it? |
Of Gods and Fathers I’ve heard folks say their God is a mighty force, prepared to punish His sinful children with quakes and floods, a God who forces devotion through fear of hell or the coldness of separation. I often wondered what these folks thought of their own fathers. Was "I love you" a foreign language? Was the ruler used to punish, not to teach? When they were hurt, did they run to their fathers or away from them? Did they have one at all? I always thought of my God as a quiet presence, waiting patiently until I called out His name. And when I did, He would be there like the distance between us instantly vanished. We would share our observations of how Project Earth was faring. We would point to constellations in the sky and he would tell me stories about their namesakes. He would eagerly show me His newest invention, and I would savor every second He spent with me. When it was time to part, we would hug each other. He would say “I love you, Punkin." I would kiss his cheek. Then he would be gone until the next time I called Him. When I did, I knew He would be there. Not a bad track record for a God, although I once thought of my own father as uninvolved and absent in my life. Thinking of God this way makes me realize how fortunate it was to have a father who wasn’t afraid of the words, “I love you”, who was eager to share His love of the Earth and stars, a father who would stand beside me if only I’d remember to call out his name. SWPoet We can't choose our fathers but we can choose how our children view theirs, their God, their father, and we can choose who we allow into their lives. May it be love we preach, and may we stay close so we can hear the call of a child. Perhaps then, we can present to them the ultimate gift, a God of love. Older version: Fathers It has been said that one views God as they view their own father. Are they harsh or loving, vengeful or patient? I wonder if this could be true. If it is, my God would remain silent, waiting patiently until I called out His name. And when I did, we would pick up where we left off on our last conversation, as if the distance between us instantly vanished. We would share our observations of how Project Earth was faring. He would eagerly show me His newest invention, and I would savor the time He spent with me. We would hug each other. He would say “I love you”, and I would say the same. Then we would part until the next time I called Him. And again, He would be there. Now that I think about it, a God like this wouldn’t be so bad after all. And when I put it that way, maybe our views of God influence how we see our fathers. I once thought my father was a little distant and uninvolved in my life. I wanted a father who would be there all the time, not just when I called. I yearned for him to just know when I needed him. Thinking of God this way makes me realize I was pretty lucky to have a father who wasn’t afraid to say “I love you”, was eager to take the time to share what he loved most with me, and who would be by my side if only I’d remember to call out his name. SWPoet |