Missing God

December 4, 2007 by
Filed under: Religion 

I’m not seeing God much these days.

One of the questions that the youth director at church asks the students (and adults) is “Where did you see God this week?”  Lately I’ve been happy that I haven’t been called out to answer, because I really don’t have a good answer.

I definitely don’t see Him at work.  People can’t be depended on to do their own jobs, much less help others.  Gossip and backstabbing abound.

At home, things are basically normal.  All cylinders are firing, and life is running at a nice constant RPM.  Maybe that’s what God is about, but I’m not seeing the traditional view of God when a little extra help is needed.

At church …. hmmpf.  For the most part, the church experience has been kind of flat for me lately.  I’m not feeling inspired by worship.  I’m attending a lot of church meetings which, as we all know, are not generally considered to be the place where people’s best shines through.  There are no real beginnings or culminations.  It’s just kind of … there.

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The Internet and blogosphere?  Please.  I think God avoids them like the plague (so to speak – don’t get any ideas).  If you want to see people behaving at their worst a lot of the time, participate in discussion forums or blogs.

The one exception is youth group.  I do see God in our meetings.  I see it in Confirmation class as the youth absorb and reflect beliefs and emotions about God (and consistently impress me).  I see it in the camaraderie, laughter, tears (and particularly in reaction to those tears) and community of the Senior High group.  Lately there just haven’t been many of these events.  Confirmation teaching sessions are only every 2-3 weeks, and the Senior High schedule hasn’t involved me (retreat with no available spots for adult advisor) or has been canceled (Thanksgiving weekend).

Maybe this is just a case of winter blahs.  Maybe it’s a bit of burning the candle at too many ends.  I dunno.  I’m just not seeing God in my life all that often.

I hope He comes back soon.

Comments

3 Comments on Missing God

  1. jodie on Tue, 4th Dec 2007 11:07 pm
  2. Mark,

    Seeing God is an ancient problem:

    Genesis 32:30
    So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, ” I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.”

    John 14:8-9
    “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

    Nobody can handle seeing God. I don’t think anybody does. That feel good thing that people call seeing God is probably just hormones and blood sugar. However, it >is< possible to see the world through God’s eyes. That is something you can actually handle. And it sticks. You don’t have to do it more than once or twice in a lifetime.

  3. Gannet Girl on Thu, 6th Dec 2007 8:12 pm
  4. Or perhaps your idea of God is less than it might be? “God when a little extra help is needed?” Possibly a pretty impoverished idea of God? And that is not a criticism at all, but a smiling nod of recognition.

    God is lavish with God’s presence, especially in situations like lawn mowing, hockey games, ham radio. But God so often hides in plain sight. Sigh. I don’t know why. When you figure it out, let me know.

    I have a book suggestion for you: Joan Chittister’s Wisdom Distilled from the Daily. During a time when I, too, found it hard to discover the Spirit that saturates everything, I discovered that the Benedictines have much help to offer.

  5. Jacob Lee on Sat, 8th Dec 2007 11:15 pm
  6. Mark,

    Do you think that it might be a problem with a your view of God? You might not be able to see Him because He is not fully part of your life. Does your worship and prayer life involve all of your senses? There is more to Christianity than just a knowledge of God.

    Jacob Lee

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