When god is on vacation
The phrase “let go and let God/god” often echoes off the walls of meeting rooms of self-help groups such as the 12 step programs for those recovering from active addiction to alcohol, drugs, food, sex or other people, places and things. Frequently it is coupled with the shortened version of the serenity prayers as written by Reinhold Niebuhr:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference
For those who have a positive faith in a God of one’s understanding both of these “prayers” or commitments may seem to make a lot of sense. For those who believe that one is responsible for one’s own destiny; those whose introduction to the concept of a god was that of a mean spirited, punishing, angry big daddy in the sky who saw and knew all and was not likely to forget how often you make mistakes or were unkind the idea of trusting the god of one’s understanding is more frightening than the behavior of the local drug dealer if you fail to pay him or her.
Yet, if one leaves the concept of god out of the equation, then one may be left with the feeling of being a quitter who has not tried hard enough. The line between giving up too soon and banging one’s head against the wall until god comes back off of vacation or one dies of a brain hemorrhage is often very narrow. Certainly, a scientist working on a treatment or cure for a type of cancer has some parameters to determine when to give up a specific experiment. At the same time, many scientists spend their entire career exploring what does not work for treating or curing a particular strain of cancer. They do not spend their entire career attempting the exact same experiment over and over again. The make very small but significant changes in the design of the experiment or null hypotheses. These scientists may or may not have a belief in the god of one’s understanding. They know that it is up to them and other members of their team to feed their creativity; to stay open to what, at times, seems impossible. They are not likely, regardless of their religious or spiritual belief system, to say, “let go and let god”. Yet, there is a time when it may be appropriate to say, “This is not working and sit quietly waiting for the muse.
In the end I must examine whether my goal of helping someone or making someone “see the light as I understand it” is working or if the process of trying to help them is resulting in them being more upset, irritable, and exhausted. “Let go and let god.” may be simply admitting that one is indeed powerless and causing more harm than good.
Whether one thinks of the whole – all those pieces of the universe that creates a mystical or magical whole – as God, magic or the great mystery – the fact remains that in fact we have limited control and limited sight. It may often be enough to be quietly present and ready to offer a hand up. Physicians worldwide agree to strive to do no harm . Sometimes they have to accept that to do more would be to cause more harm than good; to trust that the God of one’s understanding or the universe of one’s understanding is in charge and not on vacation.
Written June 11, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
The phrase “let go and let God/god” often echoes off the walls of meeting rooms of self-help groups such as the 12 step programs for those recovering from active addiction to alcohol, drugs, food, sex or other people, places and things. Frequently it is coupled with the shortened version of the serenity prayers as written by Reinhold Niebuhr:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference
For those who have a positive faith in a God of one’s understanding both of these “prayers” or commitments may seem to make a lot of sense. For those who believe that one is responsible for one’s own destiny; those whose introduction to the concept of a god was that of a mean spirited, punishing, angry big daddy in the sky who saw and knew all and was not likely to forget how often you make mistakes or were unkind the idea of trusting the god of one’s understanding is more frightening than the behavior of the local drug dealer if you fail to pay him or her.
Yet, if one leaves the concept of god out of the equation, then one may be left with the feeling of being a quitter who has not tried hard enough. The line between giving up too soon and banging one’s head against the wall until god comes back off of vacation or one dies of a brain hemorrhage is often very narrow. Certainly, a scientist working on a treatment or cure for a type of cancer has some parameters to determine when to give up a specific experiment. At the same time, many scientists spend their entire career exploring what does not work for treating or curing a particular strain of cancer. They do not spend their entire career attempting the exact same experiment over and over again. The make very small but significant changes in the design of the experiment or null hypotheses. These scientists may or may not have a belief in the god of one’s understanding. They know that it is up to them and other members of their team to feed their creativity; to stay open to what, at times, seems impossible. They are not likely, regardless of their religious or spiritual belief system, to say, “let go and let god”. Yet, there is a time when it may be appropriate to say, “This is not working and sit quietly waiting for the muse.
In the end I must examine whether my goal of helping someone or making someone “see the light as I understand it” is working or if the process of trying to help them is resulting in them being more upset, irritable, and exhausted. “Let go and let god.” may be simply admitting that one is indeed powerless and causing more harm than good.
Whether one thinks of the whole – all those pieces of the universe that creates a mystical or magical whole – as God, magic or the great mystery – the fact remains that in fact we have limited control and limited sight. It may often be enough to be quietly present and ready to offer a hand up. Physicians worldwide agree to strive to do no harm . Sometimes they have to accept that to do more would be to cause more harm than good; to trust that the God of one’s understanding or the universe of one’s understanding is in charge and not on vacation.
Written June 11, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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