God's ways are not our ways....
It is interesting to consider this thought. It was the core of the study that my women's prayer group considered this week. What are God's ways?
People who view God as angry and vengeful view God's ways as a series of rules and commands that are hard to follow and easy to break, therefore, making God a harsh judge, hard to please, unloving. Yet, we know that Jesus spoke of a loving Father who calls us to do good and take care of each other. Our recent Pope has emphasized God's preference for the poor. God calls us to know Him better. How? Read His Word, attend His church, pray.
But, sometimes for me it is confusing to translate that into real life. What does God say about my upcoming eye surgery? What does God think about the trips I have been on? Am I doing what God calls me to do, His Will for my life? Maybe I worry more about this than some people do. I am conventional and life has forced me into unconventional ways. I worry that I am missing the boat, that I have gotten it wrong. Perhaps I am imagining that angry and vengeful God?
Spiritual direction has helped me to understand that God really calls us to joy. Real, genuine joy, not fake hedonistic pleasure. Discerning the difference is the key. But real joy always leads somewhere. And that somewhere is closer to God.
My recent trip to Alaska was one of those God's ways moments for me. I was uncertain about going to Alaska. But in my heart I longed to go and see the whales and the native Americans and the glaciers calving and the ocean. I was completely unsure how this would draw me closer to God. But, as I floated on the ocean, I came to experience the largeness of creation and the capacity for joy that God had given me. I pondered things about me and about my life and I could accept and understand and appreciate how I came to be at this point in my life and where I could go in the future.
So, I came back and got busy on the parts of life that I can change for the better. I am hearing God's call to love and to feel joy. The past sufferings are over and life still has challenges and complexities, but God calls me to be joy filled.
It is interesting to consider this thought. It was the core of the study that my women's prayer group considered this week. What are God's ways?
People who view God as angry and vengeful view God's ways as a series of rules and commands that are hard to follow and easy to break, therefore, making God a harsh judge, hard to please, unloving. Yet, we know that Jesus spoke of a loving Father who calls us to do good and take care of each other. Our recent Pope has emphasized God's preference for the poor. God calls us to know Him better. How? Read His Word, attend His church, pray.
But, sometimes for me it is confusing to translate that into real life. What does God say about my upcoming eye surgery? What does God think about the trips I have been on? Am I doing what God calls me to do, His Will for my life? Maybe I worry more about this than some people do. I am conventional and life has forced me into unconventional ways. I worry that I am missing the boat, that I have gotten it wrong. Perhaps I am imagining that angry and vengeful God?
Spiritual direction has helped me to understand that God really calls us to joy. Real, genuine joy, not fake hedonistic pleasure. Discerning the difference is the key. But real joy always leads somewhere. And that somewhere is closer to God.
My recent trip to Alaska was one of those God's ways moments for me. I was uncertain about going to Alaska. But in my heart I longed to go and see the whales and the native Americans and the glaciers calving and the ocean. I was completely unsure how this would draw me closer to God. But, as I floated on the ocean, I came to experience the largeness of creation and the capacity for joy that God had given me. I pondered things about me and about my life and I could accept and understand and appreciate how I came to be at this point in my life and where I could go in the future.
So, I came back and got busy on the parts of life that I can change for the better. I am hearing God's call to love and to feel joy. The past sufferings are over and life still has challenges and complexities, but God calls me to be joy filled.