The older I get, the more I recognize and appreciate how mysterious God is. It’s a funny thing, but when I was younger, especially in my 20’s and 30’s, I was pretty sure I knew everything there was to know about God. I had read the Bible a number of times cover to cover, heard hundreds of good sermons, participated in retreats, workshops, Bible studies and conferences led by many gifted and seasoned Christians. I was very sure that I had it all figured out and was ready to defend my position from anyone who thought otherwise!
As I got older and life became less predictable and controllable, my assurance in having all the answers to life’s questions and in knowing who God is and what He/She/They would or would not do, became less and less solid. I am forever grateful that our particular brand of Christianity as a Charismatic church taught me to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. I believe this provided a doorway into a world where the experience of God’s presence became more important than just having the “right” theology and the right ideas about who God is and what we are allowed, or not allowed, to believe and do. The practice of the presence of God has helped me focus on the priorities that Jesus spoke about, to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself. Another priority, summarized by the prophet Micah, tells us that all God requires of us is to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. I really love it when thousands of pages of a book are summed up in a couple of guiding principles! Not that it is a simple thing to do to follow these principles, but the “loving God and people” thing is a lifelong challenge worthy of undertaking. And for me, anyway, it opens me up to be more patient and curious about people who believe differently from me. It helps me respect their journey along the road of life and not need to judge them, correct them, teach them my way of believing, as if it’s the only right way. It’s such a freedom not to be pressured in this way! It’s way more interesting, rich and fun to “live and let live” and learn from others no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, gender or political viewpoint. This allows God to be more mysterious than I ever used to think of Him and even to see Him in, around and through all sorts of other people (and in animals and nature too😊)
God is so much bigger than we can imagine, isn’t He? He is bigger than any book, even the Bible, can fully describe to us. Though the Bible and good teachers/authors/pastors have a lot to teach us, the “walking humbly with our God” thing requires us to stay open, to seek Him daily, to be willing to be surprised, to allow God to be mysteriously awesome and to walk around in great love and respect for all that He has made.
About the Author
John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!