God Reflection

If one survives the inevitable struggle that surrounds the idea of the very existence of such a force (call it what you will, Creator, Ultimate Concern, God) and lands on the side of belief, the magnitude of the task of belief begins to unfold. One’s mind staggers in the attempt to take in the scope of the universe — the fantastic complexity of galaxy after galaxy, and the minute order of molecules of matter. To accept a reality above and beyond and greater than all this, yet intimately involved in and concerned with creation, demands at the onset that one accept the fact that the finite human intelligence has its limitations. One should no more expect to be able to clearly see and easily understand “God” than we would expect to see the whole of a mountain from any one position. This does not mean to say that what one sees is not correct as far as it goes. In addition, some viewpoints give a clearer picture than others, but each is only part of the whole.

	God
	The one thing that I know certainly is that my thought and ideas and beliefs about God are not static but forever changing. The God of my childhood was not the God of my youth, and the God of my youth is not the God of these middle years - I am less sure now of many things than I once was)and less concerned that all the answers are not clear.
	If one survives the inevitable struggle that surrounds the idea of the very existence of such a force (call it what you will, Creator, Ultimate Concern, God) and lands on the side of belief, the magnitude of the task of belief begins to unfold. One’s mind staggers in the attempt to take in the scope of the universe — the fantastic complexity of galaxy after galaxy, and the minute order of molecules of matter. To accept a reality above and beyond and greater than all this, yet intimately involved in and concerned with creation, demands at the onset that one accept the fact that the finite human intelligence has its limitations. One should no more expect to be able to clearly see and easily understand “God” than we would expect to see the whole of a mountain from any one position. This does not mean to say that what one sees is not correct as far as it goes. In addition, some viewpoints give a clearer picture than others, but each is only part of the whole.
	To express ideas the human mind must resort to imagery so why worry if one person “sees” or “expresses” his viewpoint of God as Father, while another uses the image of a force like Love. So long as both realize that the concept of God that they find most useful or satisfying is most likely only one facet of the whole, and in no way denies the truth of another’s viewpoint. The jouney of faith, then, is a long and fascinating trip. Each turn in the road presents new problems and new answers, each vantage point gained changes the perspective and even alters the course of the whole journey.
	Given a belief in a God of the magnitude that must be necessary if such a one exists at all, then life must be a tantalizing fascinating search for the pieces of the jig-saw puzzle, ever-changing, ever-challenging. The bitter parts I cannot explain any more than the mountain climber could explain away the sharp rocks which cut his flesh as he climbs over them. Given a belief that somehow the spirit of God can be met in mortal flesh then the whole orientation of life in this world must be that of seeking the best for one’s fellowman, starting if you will in the most intimate circles and spreading out in ever widening circles to include everyone one meets. The only questions remaining to the individual are those of how best to equip himself intellectually, emotionally and spiritually for this task of Cain to “be my brother’s keeper”.
	a reflection by Marjorie Gibson St. David's United Church Calgary -- October 2000