Sunday, April 27, 2008

Playing with our Imagining of God ...

Today sitting in worship I thought more about the image of God comment I had made earlier ... the image of a sandlot baseball playing 85 year old man as an example of God really got me thinking ...

... what about a 90 year old lady playing hopscotch on the sidewalk withe little girls of her neighbourhood ??

... or a single mom of three kids waiting in line for her hamper at the local food bank?

... or the teenager skateboarding on the steps of the local school or church?

... or the poor starving refugee child huddled in the feeble shade of a lone tree on the edge of an African desert?

... or a down syndrome woman cleaning the floors at the local mall ?

... or the heart-broken child sitting on the edge of the playground because he wasn't picked by either team?

... or the 60 something executive pounding in nails at a Habitat for Humanity work site rebuilding homes following a hurricane or the tsunami - or just because that single mother of three deserves the dignity of a home ?

... or the nurse rendering aid in a far flung corner of the world where the wounded broken flotsam of a distance battle wash up looking for a little bit of compassion and care?

... or the grandmother in Africa caring for an ever growing crowd of AIDS orphans who have NO where else, and NO ONE else to turn to?

... or the peasant woman picking through the garbage dump of a 3rd world metropolis hoping to find something good enough to eat ... or trade ... or wear ... because she and her family have nothing else?

... the list could go on and on ...

... the Celtic blessing that challenges us to see the Face of Christ in Everyone we MEET speaks of these images of the divine ... but more than that, the reversal - the "and MAY they see in YOU the face of Christ", reminds us ... that when our gaze falls upon one of the "least of these" who are our sisters and our brothers, we have an obligation not to look away, but rather to embrace the divine Spirit (the Ruach - BREATH) that rests within each us - and treat one another accordingly ...

God will be found where God will be found ... and if we truly open our eyes we may be totally and completely SURPRISED by where God is found ...

... in the mean time ... a playful, dancing God is not a bad place to start ...

2 comments:

Katie Bowen said...

It's an aerogod!

Anonymous said...

I don't expect you to publish this, I know it's long... and I know you don't like Country; but this song sort of fits with the theme of your post.
-------------------------------
Colin Raye - What if Jesus came back like that:

He came to town on an old freight train
He jumped off in the puring rain
Everybody says he's insane
Just a low down account hobo

He made his bed beneath the county bridge
The town folks said that's not his
They signed a petition they're gonna get rid
Of that white trash low down no count

What if Jesus comes back like that
On an old freight train in a hobo hat
Will we let him in or turn our back
What if Jesus comes back like that
Hey what if Jesus comes back like that

Born with a habit of drug abuse
She couldn't help what her mama used
It wasn't like she got to choose
Now she's layin' there all alone

Got a monkey on her back
Nurses say they never saw a smile like that
Doctor says she might stand a chance
If somebody takes her home

What if Jesus comes back like that
Two months early and hooked on crack
Will we let him in or turn our back
What if Jesus comes back like that
Oh what if Jesus comes back like that

Nobody said life is fair
We've all got a cross to bear
When it gets a little hard to care
Just think of Jesus hanging there

He came to town on a cold dark night
A single star was his only light
The baby born that silent night
A manger for his bed

What if Jesus comes back like that
Where will he find out hearts are at
Will he let us in or turn his back
Hey what if Jesus comes back like that
Yeh what if Jesus comes back like that
Will he cry when he sees where our hearts are at
Will he let us in or turn his back
Hey what if Jesus comes back like that
Oh what if Jesus comes back like that