FALLING IN LOVE

How do you define the word, “God?” We all, it seems, have especially meaningful moments--moments when we feel a closeness to or consciousness of what many call “God,”...feelings of oneness with the universe when we sense a connection with some presence or power beyond ourselves. 

Finding the best words to articulate clearly and adequately what’s happening in these deeply personal yet universal experiences--and where they are coming from--is profoundly challenging.   

This difficulty is the reason why, for some time now, I’ve moved away from calling “God” God. No disrespect intended here--to “God” or anyone who cherishes the term. Actually, my intention is precisely the opposite: To broaden and deepen my understanding, respect and reverence for our individual experiences of the holy, the mystical, spiritual, the non-physical, and the non-sensory experiences we all have--while recognizing that no single term (or belief system) can or will suffice. 

On the one hand, I feel the term “God” is just too restrictive. It vastly limits our definition of these empowering experiences. (Remember J.B. Phillip’s Your God Is Too Small?) Some “Christians” even use their definition of “God” as a litmus test for membership into their particular tribe. Yet in listening to people describe their holy moments, whether they consider themselves “believers” or not (again, I use quotes because “believer” is another word that is not only restrictive, but sometimes used intentionally so. Aargh!), I find that people whom “believers” label as a “non-believers” have identical experiences to their own but use completely different (and frankly, often more freeing) language to describe them. 

On the other hand, we sometimes use the term “God” so loosely that it loses all its distinctive flavor--like adding too much liquid to the gravy. We assume that everyone knows who or what we’re talking about! But, in this day of global networking and cross cultural bridge-building that simply won’t fly. Further, this is a good time to remember theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking’s, “It’s important to keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.”

My own experience of “God” is best characterized by the emotion of joy--which is why I often use this word in place of “God” when in prayer or meditation. This joy is deeply holy and highly inspiring, yet I, too, have difficulty articulating it...and I’m a pastor!  I’m supposed to know these things! The best analogy or metaphor I can think of is to say it’s like living in a constant state of falling in love--being in a relationship that is so intimate, dynamic and all-transforming that it shapes everything else in my life.

What about you? What is your working definition of the word “God?” What is your experience of this “God?” How are you letting your falling-in-love moments shape your day, your decisions, your thoughts, your feelings, and all your other relationships? In short, your everything?

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & OURSELVES A GIFT.

LET’S TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK.