Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Unknowing (Excerpts from a freindly letter)

It usually isn't what we don't know that keeps us from having conversations with Father, it's what we think we know. We think we know that God is distant, that He is scrutinizing our every fiber and contemplation, that He is always on the verge of rage, that He is unknowable, that He is disconnected from us, and that He is like other Fathers we've known. These are the things we know about our Father.

We have been good church-people; listening and assimilating what comes across the pulpit, all in the name of submission to authority. In doing so, we have allowed our experiences with God to be limited to what we're told He is like, never allowing Him to speak for Himself.

There is no formula or system for you to know your Father, who just happens to be God. He is your Father, your Daddy and He is always talking. You don't even need to open-up to let Him in...He's already in.

Our traditional posture of prayer is simply a show of submission, and to close our eyes is practically for the focusing of our attentions on our prayer. These are good practices, but they are for our benefit, not because God requires them before He hears us.

It's like the movie the Matrix when Morphius tells Neo, Stop trying to hit me, and hit me! Stop trying to enjoy our Father, and enjoy Him. He does not reside in what we know. He is in the unknown, making it known. This is the great leading of God; that we leave what we know to embrace the unknown. You can't study, practice, pray, or prepare for that kind of journey. You just take it.

Find your inner quite place. He'll meet you there, because that's where He's always been.

Much love.