Taking time for LIFE and GOD
When I was a kid, I grew up thinking that God was this old man with a long white beard. He sat on a big throne and had a lot of people who were singing around him. But I was always afraid, I thought that God was one who looking out for the things that I was doing wrong. Yet then Jesus would come and tell me things were going to be ok. That God had been sitting on the throne for a long time but really he meant well and loved me. As time went on my understanding of God grew, as it should because my relationship with God grew as well.
I began to realize how that understanding of God was so true. God wanted what was best for me and wanted me to realize the LOVE that He truly shared for me. Yet in my teen years, while your whole body and world seem to be put into this blender of reality and nothing seems to work out right. You can also begin to wonder, doubt, and be down right frustrated with God. For these two voices of God looking out for what I am doing wrong and Jesus saying that God still loved me were still present now I understood that it was an understanding of being a sinner and a saint. While now I could put a name to that understanding, it did not help much in the wrestling within life.
As soon as you begin to realize that it is not so much about what others think of you but more important of what God thinks of you, you are thrust into a whole new world where you are on your own, either in college or into the working world. As the world reveals itself for what it truly is, you also begin to realize God's role within your life. God is the constant source of comfort, understanding and really grounds you in this world that would tear you apart with all the voices, opinions, and expectations.
With all these voices, it is important to have a relationship with the one who actually created you and the world. I tell you my experience so that you can reflect upon your own.
The way you did view God and still view God has a great impact upon the way you view the world around you and the people you encounter. Within the world, there are those who have a variety of views of God and even those who say that God does not exist. For me, I am a Lutheran, which means I am a Christian, which means I do believe in God so when I look around the world, I see all that God has created. I see what humans have created. I am reminded that all those people I encounter were also created by a God who loves them and has a relationship with them as well. In taking some time with Martin Luther, he would often speak of the Two Kingdoms understanding of how God is active within the world. The Two Kingdoms understanding is that there are two kingdoms in which you as a believer are a part of: this Earthly Kingdom in which you are physically living, breathing, eating, affect, and also interact with on a daily basis. The second Kingdom is the Heavenly Kingdom, in which you are also a part of since you are a Child of God through Jesus Christ, you are also a servant continually working on bring the Heavenly Kingdom into this Earthly Kingdom.
You are standing in both Kingdoms because you are still alive and yet claimed by God through your Baptism.
Yet in talking with most people, they are not able to articulate: "Who God is. What God does. or for that matter, How God is within their life." More often than not, people do not stop and take the time. We simply rush from one event to the next activity and rush through life thinking that it is living. "I will need this for college." "It so much fun." "My kids really want to do this." (often they are talking about sports, dance, or some other activity) These are some of the excuses that I hear and yet they miss the big picture question,
What is this life for?
What is God calling you to do within the world?
How do you relate with God?
These are some tough questions that can not be answered within an evening but take time to unravel, be revealed and even understand. However, these are also questions that you should never have an answer to, because a relationship is something that is continually changing, evolving and growing. When you think that you have the world and God figured out, you will realize that you really don't. But that does not mean that you should just throw in the towel and not even try because this is the greatest work and time that a person can spend within their life.
I began to realize how that understanding of God was so true. God wanted what was best for me and wanted me to realize the LOVE that He truly shared for me. Yet in my teen years, while your whole body and world seem to be put into this blender of reality and nothing seems to work out right. You can also begin to wonder, doubt, and be down right frustrated with God. For these two voices of God looking out for what I am doing wrong and Jesus saying that God still loved me were still present now I understood that it was an understanding of being a sinner and a saint. While now I could put a name to that understanding, it did not help much in the wrestling within life.
- What was I suppose to do to be that Child of God?
- How am I suppose to share that with others?
- What will others think of me?
As soon as you begin to realize that it is not so much about what others think of you but more important of what God thinks of you, you are thrust into a whole new world where you are on your own, either in college or into the working world. As the world reveals itself for what it truly is, you also begin to realize God's role within your life. God is the constant source of comfort, understanding and really grounds you in this world that would tear you apart with all the voices, opinions, and expectations.
With all these voices, it is important to have a relationship with the one who actually created you and the world. I tell you my experience so that you can reflect upon your own.
- How did you think of God when you were growing up?
- How has your relationship changed? Or has it?
Yet in talking with most people, they are not able to articulate: "Who God is. What God does. or for that matter, How God is within their life." More often than not, people do not stop and take the time. We simply rush from one event to the next activity and rush through life thinking that it is living. "I will need this for college." "It so much fun." "My kids really want to do this." (often they are talking about sports, dance, or some other activity) These are some of the excuses that I hear and yet they miss the big picture question,
What is this life for?
What is God calling you to do within the world?
How do you relate with God?
These are some tough questions that can not be answered within an evening but take time to unravel, be revealed and even understand. However, these are also questions that you should never have an answer to, because a relationship is something that is continually changing, evolving and growing. When you think that you have the world and God figured out, you will realize that you really don't. But that does not mean that you should just throw in the towel and not even try because this is the greatest work and time that a person can spend within their life.
Comments
Post a Comment