Keeping faith – this God thing
Since I was a young child I have been reminded by my elders and other teachers that events will unfold in God’s time and not when I think they should happen. Yet, as Anne Lamott, the writer and author of many spiritual works, says, “Would it be too much skin off your nose to do X or give B a break or whatever.” Surely for an all knowing, all powerful being it would not be that much trouble to strongly, but lovingly, suggest to the attorney that he/she could move our issue to the top of the pile; could let my kid catch a break at school or whatever.” Yet, we know he/she/it does not work that way. In fact, do we really believe that there is some personified being made in our image? Certainly there are many who believe in such a being who, similar to a benevolent parent, will one day call us to account and, if we “pass” welcome us to that eternal home. In the meantime, he/she/it is in ultimate control of all that happens. Others believe in something they may choose to call the God of their understanding which roughly delineates that which is outside of one and, yet, includes one. A friend of mine who has not had a traditional religious life speaks of the need to keep faith. With what or whom is he or she keeping faith? What does it mean to keep faith? What possible meaning could the phrase “all in God’s time” have if there is not some super parent in charge of the ultimate outcome?
When I was talking about Parker Palmer’s concept of community the other day I was acutely aware of my belief that there is a sense of “being right” with self and with all that we conceptualize or talk about being outside of self. Many of us talk about “finding ourselves” or “losing ourselves.” How can one speak of losing oneself? If, indeed, one lost oneself there would be no self to find oneself. Yet, many of us seem to accept that it makes perfect sense for one to attempt to find oneself. The self for which one is searching seems to be that essence which most of us experience as the part of us which knows we are a part of a whole person and part of a whole universe, both of which require that the parts be working in sync with each other. When I perform an action which does not facilitate the working of the whole then I experience a “dis ease” or a disconnection from self which then prevents me from connecting with others which then prevents me from filling my place in the “natural” order or universe(s).
All in God’s time calls to mind the lifting of the clouds which prevent one from seeing the action which will allow the connection to the whole. All in God’s time conjures up an image for me of putting a motor or some other machine together. It is only when I have all pieces in place that the motor will work. Having 99% of them together will not result in it working. I may or may not be able to see what piece has been left out or incorrectly joined with the whole, but I “know” that there is some missing piece which will determine the outcome. I often “think” that I “know’ what the outcome “should” necessarily be. I may rattle off a list of what actions have been completed to insure a particular result. I may rant and carry on when that result does not happen and happen in the time frame I expect it to happen.
That is when my grandmother or some other wise elder might say to me “All in God’s time. Keep the faith. What needs to happen will happen.”
When I do all I need to do to be present to self and the universe – when I keep faith – I need only stay open to the result. If I insist on a particular result, lose faith or get impatient the anger or frustration will again result in being disconnected from self and the universe.
Whether one is more comfortable with “all in God’s time,” “when the time is right” or some other term, the point is that my only job is to keep the faith with myself which will then allow me to keep the faith with the universe and be at peace with the timing and the outcome. From my very limited perspective I cannot possibly see how all the pieces of the universe fit together. I also cannot control the actions of others or how the universe will use what seems like very negative or destructive actions. I sometimes think of the brilliant colors which result from setting off explosives which we call fireworks. The destructive pain which much of the world inflicts on each other will, if we allow, burn itself out. Then and only then the underlying light will be revealed to be a part of the whole. I am not suggesting that we should welcome the destructive pain. I am suggesting that it will, in God’s time, cease. We do not have to fight against it, but we do have to resist being pulled into it.
Keeping the faith means to me being true to the sacred whole of which we are an essential part. Any mistreatment of self will prevent us from keeping the faith.
Written September 24, 2016
Since I was a young child I have been reminded by my elders and other teachers that events will unfold in God’s time and not when I think they should happen. Yet, as Anne Lamott, the writer and author of many spiritual works, says, “Would it be too much skin off your nose to do X or give B a break or whatever.” Surely for an all knowing, all powerful being it would not be that much trouble to strongly, but lovingly, suggest to the attorney that he/she could move our issue to the top of the pile; could let my kid catch a break at school or whatever.” Yet, we know he/she/it does not work that way. In fact, do we really believe that there is some personified being made in our image? Certainly there are many who believe in such a being who, similar to a benevolent parent, will one day call us to account and, if we “pass” welcome us to that eternal home. In the meantime, he/she/it is in ultimate control of all that happens. Others believe in something they may choose to call the God of their understanding which roughly delineates that which is outside of one and, yet, includes one. A friend of mine who has not had a traditional religious life speaks of the need to keep faith. With what or whom is he or she keeping faith? What does it mean to keep faith? What possible meaning could the phrase “all in God’s time” have if there is not some super parent in charge of the ultimate outcome?
When I was talking about Parker Palmer’s concept of community the other day I was acutely aware of my belief that there is a sense of “being right” with self and with all that we conceptualize or talk about being outside of self. Many of us talk about “finding ourselves” or “losing ourselves.” How can one speak of losing oneself? If, indeed, one lost oneself there would be no self to find oneself. Yet, many of us seem to accept that it makes perfect sense for one to attempt to find oneself. The self for which one is searching seems to be that essence which most of us experience as the part of us which knows we are a part of a whole person and part of a whole universe, both of which require that the parts be working in sync with each other. When I perform an action which does not facilitate the working of the whole then I experience a “dis ease” or a disconnection from self which then prevents me from connecting with others which then prevents me from filling my place in the “natural” order or universe(s).
All in God’s time calls to mind the lifting of the clouds which prevent one from seeing the action which will allow the connection to the whole. All in God’s time conjures up an image for me of putting a motor or some other machine together. It is only when I have all pieces in place that the motor will work. Having 99% of them together will not result in it working. I may or may not be able to see what piece has been left out or incorrectly joined with the whole, but I “know” that there is some missing piece which will determine the outcome. I often “think” that I “know’ what the outcome “should” necessarily be. I may rattle off a list of what actions have been completed to insure a particular result. I may rant and carry on when that result does not happen and happen in the time frame I expect it to happen.
That is when my grandmother or some other wise elder might say to me “All in God’s time. Keep the faith. What needs to happen will happen.”
When I do all I need to do to be present to self and the universe – when I keep faith – I need only stay open to the result. If I insist on a particular result, lose faith or get impatient the anger or frustration will again result in being disconnected from self and the universe.
Whether one is more comfortable with “all in God’s time,” “when the time is right” or some other term, the point is that my only job is to keep the faith with myself which will then allow me to keep the faith with the universe and be at peace with the timing and the outcome. From my very limited perspective I cannot possibly see how all the pieces of the universe fit together. I also cannot control the actions of others or how the universe will use what seems like very negative or destructive actions. I sometimes think of the brilliant colors which result from setting off explosives which we call fireworks. The destructive pain which much of the world inflicts on each other will, if we allow, burn itself out. Then and only then the underlying light will be revealed to be a part of the whole. I am not suggesting that we should welcome the destructive pain. I am suggesting that it will, in God’s time, cease. We do not have to fight against it, but we do have to resist being pulled into it.
Keeping the faith means to me being true to the sacred whole of which we are an essential part. Any mistreatment of self will prevent us from keeping the faith.
Written September 24, 2016
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