I haven’t posted for a bit, things have been very busy at work, with my family, in my head, etc., and….what I’ve missed most is the wisdom and insights contained in the blogs that I am blessed to read…..
I’m back…..
Someone gave me a book for Christmas and I picked it up the other day. One of the things that I have decided is that it is time to go back and read some of my favorites over again. And, I’m starting to do that, but there are so many wonderful authors out there, and this book was a gift, so I decided to take a look…..so many books, so little time…
Anyway, this book is about God working in this man’s life and it begins with a story (going from memory here) about how once a month this man goes somewhere with his family. Instead of going on his ‘usual’ weekend, he waited a week and went then. Well, all sorts of bad things happened, the car broke down, got stuck in a ditch, I think someone got hurt, etc., etc., and the man concluded that God had obviously wanted him to go the weekend before (his ‘usual’ weekend) and this is how God communicated that to him.
I put the book down…well, at first I questioned myself, ‘do I not get it?’ But then, on further reflection, I decided that if indeed I didn’t ‘get it’, then I need to go back to the basics.
I’m sorry….I just don’t thing that God works that way, communicates that way, or, in this particular situation, really cared that much which weekend this man went on his trip, whatever it was. To think that God would make your car break down or make you get hurt because you chose a different weekend to travel on is too much for me.
It’s not that I don’t think that God communicates to us…in his oh so beautiful ‘whispers to the heart’, I just don’t think that it’s that simple. ‘Direct cause and effect’ doesn’t seem to be his style. I think that he works with our decisions, good or bad, always with the intention of bringing us to him. I can’t predict God, I can’t understand God, I can’t really even ‘know’ God, but I can trust God and I can love God – as mysterious as he is.
Maybe I’ve got it all wrong, but I can’t live with that kind of spirituality…so, that is one book that I won’t finish or re-read. It’s just not that simple….
Reflections on the Journey 
So good to have you back here, Andie!
I am glad you are putting this book down. I like the way you look at Godde, maybe because it is very much the way I look at Her as well…
For a while now my deepest prayer has been to be open to the presence of Godde — in all things — each day. Maybe I need to place little pieces of paper around my home and in the garden so that whatever I do becomes a sacrament…
I read somewhere that Godde’s will is my deepest desire… Now I have to find out what this is 🙂
Blessings, Andie.
Yes Claire, we definately share the same thoughts about Godde. My dear friend, the Trappist Monk, always says the same thing about Godde’s will as our deepest desire. Kind of makes us one with Godde, doesn’t it? And, it says a lot about our deepest desires, our true selves.
God doesn’t “wish” bad things on us even if we really do make mistakes (and I hardly think moving a trip a week off is a mistake). God is pure love and only wants the best for us. Obviously there are times when we reap what we sow because there are consequences to actions – whether good consequences or bad. Either way He brings good out of everything – even what we consider the bad stuff.
A month ago I thought my car was sounding a bit funny and I had to make a twenty minute drive to a nearby city. I said, “Lord, my car sounds funny. If it’s not safe to drive that far please let me know.” So I drove my car around the block to test it and do you know where it broke down? Right in front of my house 🙂 Another time I got a flat tire 100 yards from a service station! God is good 🙂
I do think God is trying to “wake up” our souls lately though and that we live in unusual times. But all will be well if we trust Him.
Great thoughts Mary, I do agree that these seem to be strange times…we must pray, you are so right.
OH! I so agree. The God I read about in my Bible is quite different from the way the author of the book you cite describes Him. It’s no wonder people live in fear and superstition. Someone once said, “When in doubt, read the directions.” Another way of saying it, “When in doubt, read the Bible.”
I have a profound dislike of How to Books and also anything that smacks of determinism.
But I’m open to hindsight as most of the my life I’ve been too headstrong and stupid to discern what God might be saying to me.
I’ve got more time to listen to what God might be saying these days or maybe because I’m getting older I’M MORE WILLING.
But I do like the idea of synchronicity which I think is a more subtle and nuanced way that God may use with us often with a dose of humour.
Blessings