Hell, What is hell?

Since my last entry I have been thinking about the image of God that has emerged for me in the past twenty odd years.
It occurred to me that the image of God I had in my youth carried with it a sinister side to it as well. That image of God would rather send me to hell than reconcile when I messed up. So what of this newer image? This image has God appear gentle, compassionate and loving, ready to do whatever it takes to reconcile humanity to Himself so that none should parish.

Let's, just for the sake of argument, look at a human being and consider what it would take for said human person to dis-own a child for whatever reason.

 I've put some thought into this and the outcome always seems to be the same. I'll use myself as an example. What would it take for me to permanently cast out one or more of my children to never ever have contact with them again? I couldn't come up with any scenario that would have me resort to that drastic an action. In every case I would eventually come to the point that I would have to try to reconcile with said child just so I could be in that child's life. I know that there are some people out there that have dis-owned family members and I'm not trying to justify, or make sense of their actions. I'm looking at what I might feel and do if presented with this scenario.

Now if I cannot consider a situation that would drive me to the total abandonment of my children, then why would I believe that the gentle, compassionate and totally loving God I've come to know consider total abandonment of any of His created human beings?

This thought comes from the New Testament writings; the Gospels, the epistles and the letters of the apostles. If God was willing to make Himself as one with humanity, suffering and dying the most degrading of death in order to reconcile humanity's sin, then I have to rethink the lessons of my youth!

With that thought in mind I'm not trying to say that there isn't a hell, all I'm saying is that God isn't the one who will put me there
That I believe will be something that will be of my own doing if I were to reject God and his affection for me. The earlier example I gave would follow in a similar fashion, that my child would have to reject me and my attempts at reconciliation. So therefore for me to be "in hell" would have to be of my own volition, I would have to reject all of God's attempts at reconciling with me so that I would spend all of eternity without the pleasure of eternal bliss in the presence of my Creator.
Now that I've read this post I see that it paints a very dark picture. I pray that no one resorts to owning it for them-self.

So there! That should get the thought processes moving.

what does God look like?

I was reminded of a story about a Sunday school class asked to draw.
As the teacher walked around the room looking at the different artful enterprises she came to little Suzie.
Now little Suzie was fastidiously working at her drawing. The teacher asked Suzie what she was drawing, to which Suzie answered "I'm drawing a picture of God!" The teacher immediately corrected Suzie saying "Suzie no one knows what God looks like." And Suzie without looking up said "They will when I'm done."

That illustration is only one of what I believe are as many and varied as people are.

I read "The Shack" by William Paul Young last Summer. I'm not one for reading novels and fiction especially, but there was so much hype about it that I decided to buy and read "The Shack".

One of the things about the novel that caught my attention, and by no means the most important,was the description of God the author gave. A large beaming African-American woman would not be my first image of God for sure, but that's just me.

I've had different images of God ranging from a stern and nasty old man looking for a reason to can my butt (when I was a young person) to a number of very interesting personalities over the years since.
The different images of God that have populated my mind came as I changed and grew spiritually.

I would venture a guess that probably most if not all undergo such transformation of God images as a result of working on building a relationship with God.

I was reading another book last week ;Finding God in The Shack by Randal Rauser. On the subject of our formed images of God  the author was referring to the way a person sees and experiences care givers in our youth has an influence on how one perceives God (our image of God).

I am inclined to agree with the author  on that point since my first images of God were of a tyrannical being bent on exacting justice. The God I have come to know on this journey is a far cry from the God I was taught about. Scripture is full of just the opposite. How many times does God refrain from exacting his justice on an unrepentant populace? I didn't count it but I think you know what I mean, I hope.

And I must say I am much more comfortable with the later images.
This is just a thought that was going through my mind this morning and I decided that I would share it as my first offering on my return from a sojourn into the desert.

Thank you for your support in the past.

Francois

Why me Lord?

I had some reflection time, with a little help from Fr.John, on this passage in Luke's gospel; 6:12-16.

It occurred to me that when Jesus chose His followers and took twelve as disciples, He made some rather eronious choices.

On first examination one sees that He has chosen out of all the people in His society the bottom of the barrel, in a manner of speaking.
Sinners, crooks, hotheads, cowards and whatever else we can call these misfits, were His first draft picks to lead the multitudes and teach His Good News legacy.

I'm not sure what others would think about this passage, but for me on first inspection it seems to make very little sense.
In today's world if you are looking for a good leader you go out and look for the smart ones, especially those who have good background references from past experience, before making your final decision.

I noticed also that throughout the Gospels Jesus did a lot of things differently than the norm of His day.

But back to the choices Jesus made.
I asked myself what possible reason could Jesus have had to make these choices, when He could have chosen from the educated and law abiding citizens in Jewish society.

And then the light went on.
If Jesus had chosen from the upper echelons of Jewish hierarchy Christianity would have died with Him on the cross.
And where would that have left us gentiles, the rest of the infidel pagan society outside of God's chosen people?

We would undoubtedly be living life without the knowledge of the loving God I have gotten to know.

In this case it seems that the best person for the job wasn't the one with the best qualifications after all.

And after considering the consequences of Jesus' choices I can rest confidently in the knowledge that if God calls me to service it is because I'm not necessarily the brightest bulb on the string, but I am the one that He chooses to light up that particular instant in the place I am at.

When I think about the gravity of the meaning of God calling me to serve in His fields I'm left scratching my head and asking; "Why me lord?", as many of His followers may have done after realizing what they were being asked.

And the answer is invariably always, because you're the one I need for the job! Now get-er-done!

Where is heaven?

I read a post on face book yesterday "Heaven is wherever Jesus is."
That got me to thinking. Jesus lives in humanity (you and me).
If heaven is where Jesus is then I am in deep doo doo.
This is because He promised us the Holy Spirit Guide (Himself) would in-dwell us (humanity).


That makes me the dwelling place of Jesus, which means that heaven is in me.
It has occurred to me that my dwelling place is a bit on the shabby side and run down.
I have allowed much clutter to encroach this dwelling that is reserved by my creator.
It's funny how such a benign statement can set my mind to thinking, and how much insight can be gleaned from the experience.
God desires to be part of my life. He stands patiently by while I hem and haw about letting Him in.
I am still amazed at how gently God comes to me and urges me on this spiritual path.
A personal relationship with God at one time scared me. Today it scares me to think that I might lose this personal care God has for me.
I would have to completely reject God for that to happen.
No not today, I think I'll hang on for the long haul. Too much is riding on my becoming more deeply aware of God in my life.

Suck it up buttercup

This post comes from my reflection experience on Luke's gospel 15:11-32.

I looked at these verses from the perspective of the likely traits of that day's society and from several angles as well and found differing emotions as I imagined myself as the different member participants in the parable.

As the Prodigal I felt the shame and sorrow associated with the insanity of the actions taken by this young man. I can imagine the torment and fear of returning to my father after my folly.

I spent some time as the elder brother and found a great anger and resentment welling up.

As the servant who was appointed to care for the returning son I felt an odd mixture of feelings that I couldn't really put into words, I think mostly a bewildered set of emotions ( I'm male so I haven't put a lot of time into the discovery of emotions).

I also placed myself in the role of an observer, which yielded still another set of emotions, a curious sort of pity for the son and an almost indignant feeling toward the father for disrupting the status-quo of the day. This is a Jewish family after all and by rights the son would normally be disowned. So for this father to welcome this renegade son is not a kosher deed in the eyes of that society.

As the father I related to the anguish and concern that a parent goes through when a child goes astray from what I would rather have the child follow. I could also feel a great happiness at his return and that mixed with a growing sense of urgency to have this young man looked after and nursed back to health. Another emotion I felt that I'm not sure of, but it may be pity or something related to the sense of urgency.

As a spiritual exercise, it was a very enriching experience to go through.

Give it up Kid

All day long today I've heard reflections on Luke 14:25-33.
All were different and all had the same basic message.
It's a tough gospel passage to swallow, and it's a hard decision to make to follow Jesus at all cost.

So then if I continue on the road I've decided on I have to face the fact that I am going to have to give up the life I want to live in favor of the one Jesus is offering me.

I attended a healing service this evening and the Reverend Jon Lownds said it possibly the best way I've ever heard it. "We offer our-self as a living sacrifice. The trouble with living sacrifices is that they tend to crawl off the alter.
Only when I give my problems to God do they become His. Only then can he do what He does best-- heal our brokenness."

I'm glad I'm still human and imperfect. That way I know God can work with me and make out of this lump of broken clay a new creation of His own choosing ... well as soon as I get back to giving up my independence... (getting back up on the alter.)

It's amazing how many different ways a message can be interpreted and I'm glad some can see it through the eyes of a loving God.

Decisions, decisions

From the Face book application “Message from God” “On this day of my life, I believe that God wants me to know that decision is only wishful thinking until I take the first irreversible step.” “You can tell yourself that you have already decided, that nothing now can stop you, but if that step backwards is so much safer than stepping forward, what will hold you true to your path when the going gets tough? Sometimes, the right thing to do is to take that first irreversible step, the one after which you cannot go back.”  I can think of the many times when I faced decisions and procrastinated only to find that I had to forge forward regardless.  I hate it when that happens, but learn I must, even if it is by the hard way.

What was I thinking?

I came to prayer full of distractions and things that are really of no consequence when I stop and think about it.

Psalm 8 returns my focus on this day to what it I am supposed to be thinking about =>The majesty of God and His creation.
I am reminded that I am regarded by God as worthy of His blessings and I need to accept that.
That isn't always as easy as it might sound.
I am also reminded that if I, who is imperfect, can accept other imperfect human beings, then how much more can God , who is perfect, do?
When I think about all of God's creation I am in awe of the complexity of it all.
This makes me think of the importance of responsibility and the responsibility of importance.

Without responsibility one has nothing to work toward. Without importance responsibility has little value.
This remind me of the story of a little boy who came home from school all excited about his appointment as the clap and cheer guy in the Christmas play.

What's really in the garden?

I was thinking about the great multitude of things that occupy a person's waking hours and how oblivious I can be about it all.

I get a great deal of pleasure walking about the property we have carved our home out of, especially the garden and all the plants that have taken up habitation there.

I had mentioned in an earlier post that humanity tends to be tedious about where what should or should not exist. I am happily being one such control freak.

Of all the many beautiful occupants of our garden almost all have been placed there by Patricia and me. 

Almost all?

That's right, now you know my dirty little secret. We have some very unique plants that have just appeared in our garden. One such is the Arisaema triphyllum(Jack in the pulpit).I was surprised about four years ago with this wild plant growing in the north east flower bed. No idea how it got there and no idea what it was except that it was both strange and beautiful. So it got to stay.

What does that have to do with the garden of humanity?

Well it has occurred to me that on the path of life I have been treated to some very strange people along the way. If I were to treat the strange ones like weeds they would never have a chance to occupy my space. Fortunately for me I tend to get a little weird when it comes to plants ( I once transplanted Dandelions in the vegetable garden). And that's another story.

 I can say that I've made friends with acquaintances that have been both pleasant and surprising.

Some would even say that these friendships are most unlikely and couldn't possibly last because of the vast differences in the natures we have.  None-the-less I have a varied human garden and I truly enjoy working at it. 

I have to admit that I am still somewhat biased in many ways and I ask God to look in on me once in a while and make adjustments as necessary, so that my garden can accommodate an even wider variety of beautiful souls for my pleasure. That sounds so selfish when I read it but I want to be able to enjoy the company of as diversified a pool of friends as Jesus had during His short ministry.

It's a tall order but I think with practice it can be a reality for me as well as all of humanity someday.

What's in the garden

Wow a week goes by in a hurry!

This morning I took some quiet time with Luke10:25-37 and the parable of the good Samaritan.
The question that the lawyer asked got me to thinking."Who is my neighbor?"
My mind wandered in several directions for a while.
But it settled in on the way we humans look at and treat our neighbors.

A while back I was thinking about the many cultures, races and creeds that occupy our planet. It occurred to me that we Humans tend to organize our lives much like our gardens. The peas are in one spot, the carrots in another and so on. Weeds of course have no place in the "garden". There are no exceptions. I look at humanity and see the similarity: a tendency to segregate by race, color, creed and so on.
Each is assigned a place and each is except-able in their place. Some aren't allowed in at all.

What is it about us that makes us react in this manner to differences and where will Jesus' message finally come to really make a difference in the way humanity thinks and functions toward neighbor?

Today I am thinking about the many bias' that make up who I am.

I don't think I'm going to like what I'm going to discover. But it wouldn't be a journey if I didn't go to those places as well as the pleasant places.

Who do you say that I am?

Here is the first installment to a brand new page in my existence.
I was asked to give a short reflection on the scriptures of the day last Sunday.
Here is what came to my attention as I progressed into these Scriptures.

Psalm 28:8-9, Zechariah 12:10-11, Psalm 63, Galatians 3:26-29 and Luke 9:18-24

This has been a huge undertaking for me and a very humbling and rewarding one as well.


June 20 2010 12th Sunday in ordinary time

When I read the readings for today a few things stood out for me.
From the very beginning of the readings I see God giving His graces or His blessings to His chosen people.

When I think about it just being alive is a blessing from God.

In the first reading Zechariah prophesied to the people of Israel that God would give a spirit of compassion and supplication.
I had to look up supplication. It’s a little bigger word than I’m used to.
Supplication according to the dictionary means to ask for something earnestly, to be seriously sincere (as in prayer).

Psalm 63 reminds me of the importance of staying in touch with God on a regular basis so that I don’t feel separated from God. It’s what I experienced when I didn’t yet have a personal relationship with God.

In the second reading Paul tells us that we are heirs to Gods graces just as the Israelis are as God’s Chosen people.
That indicates to us that we enjoy the same privileges as God’s Chosen.
It may come as a surprise to some but we weren’t included in God’s first draft pick.

It seems to me that not all who saw Jesus were convinced that he was God’s answer to salvation for His people.
They witnessed His miraculous deeds.
They were there seeing it in live action and some still didn’t get the point of who Jesus really was.
If the people who saw Jesus in the flesh couldn’t be convinced, then what chance is there for us who haven’t seen Jesus and rely on 2000 year old stories?
Our hope comes from those who saw and believed. They understood what was happening and they took the ball and ran with it (so to speak).
For those who did take Jesus seriously Zechariah’s prophecy becomes reality.

We have Christianity today because not all of the Jewish community turned away in disbelief.
We are included today because many of the first rejected God’s offer of salvation.
We have been given an incredible gift.
To be included with the Jewish community to receive God’s graces as equals makes us incredibly fortunate.

Being baptized in Christ we are changed so that we see through new eyes and love with new hearts. Everyone is Christ to us as we should be to others.

Jesus invites us to be like His disciples, to go out into the world we live in and share with everyone the good news of the gospel.

In the Gospel Jesus asks His disciples what the people in the area are thinking of Him, who they think He is.
I don’t know the answer to that question. I guess you had to be there.

Jesus told His followers how he was going to suffer and die.

He told His disciples what had to take place for the Messiah to achieve His purpose.

Then he went on to tell them that anyone who was to follow in His way, that person would have to deny their own desires and take up their own cross daily.

One form of taking up that daily cross comes as service.

That’s going to take up some of our time and it is going to take some effort on our part.

So what does it mean to be Christ to others?
And how do I put it into practice in my daily living in the world I live in?

If you recall on Holy Thursday in John’s gospel Jesus gives us an example of discipleship when He takes up the basin and the towel and washes His disciple’s feet.

Last Sunday Fr. Mark gave us a good explanation of the relevance of the feet in Jewish culture. To a Jew the feet are the dirtiest part of the body.

Jesus was showing by example what it would take to be one of His followers.
It takes humility of Spirit, a willingness to forgo being “the leader” and the determination to keep it up when the going gets rough.

2000 years later I read these scriptures and I ponder it’s implication for me.

What is Jesus asking of me?
That’s a tough question.

As I thought about that I remembered a story I heard about a boy who was walking on the beach after a big storm.
He would stop every once in a while and pick up a starfish that had washed up on shore, look at it and throw it into the water.
Sitting on the beach observing this was an elderly man.
When the boy got close the older gentleman shouted to the boy “It won’t make any difference you know.”
The boy picked up another starfish, looked at it and threw it back into the water and said “it makes a difference to this one”.
I‘m not sure what that story says to you.
But for me it reminds me that while I’m here I have an opportunity to make a difference in the life of every person I meet.
Will it be a difference for good?

While I was growing up all my needs were taken care of by someone else.
I don’t recall putting much thought into appreciating that fact.
But they were instrumental in giving me the code I was to live by in my adult years.

Let’s get back to the question of what Jesus is asking of me and of all of us?
Not everyone is called to be a Saint Paul or a mother Theresa.
But in our everyday lives we are called to be a brother or sister, a husband or wife, a parent and a neighbor to the people we encounter.
It may be something as simple as a smile or a greeting to a passerby.
When we meet another person we don’t know what that person has been through or may be going through.
It may be that this simple act of giving a smile will be what carries that person through the next part of his or her call in life.

Jesus in the gospel asks the question to the disciples; “Who do you say that I am?”

To quote Patrick Gallagher in the introduction to today’s celebration: “When Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” He is issuing a challenge to the recipient of that question.
Who am I to you?
What difference do I make a in your life?
What does it mean for you to be my disciple?

We are all gathered here today as followers of Jesus.
I believe that Jesus invites each of us to answer that question.
How would any of us answer this question?

You may have noticed that I used a lot of I and me statements.
I didn’t do that in a self centered way.
It’s because I can’t speak for anyone but myself.
For each of us there will be a slightly different answer, simply because we are created differently.

Fr. Bill has been telling us that we are all part of the body of Christ.
Just as each part of the body has a different purpose so to we‘ve been created for our very own purpose.

It isn’t easy being a Christian in today’s world.
Jesus told His disciples that and we’re reminded of it when we read scripture.

The challenge is before us.
If I ask the question; “who do you say that I am?”
What will I hear in response?
I wonder if I even want to ask that question sometimes.
The answer might not reflect a very Christ like living on my part.

What sort of response would you hear if you ask it?