GAD AGAIN

 God Again

Here I am thinking about God again. My definition of  God, is being itself, God is the ground of all being. God is not the creator of the world but of the universe and beyond. That is the very large concept of God. But it sure is not very personal. It is hard to pray to being itself or the ground of all being. To make God more personal I see God as a metaphor. A metaphor is a something simple that represents something much bigger.

When I pray to God the father, I know that Father stands for the the ground of all being, the earth, universe and beyond. I can pray to and talk with God the Father. I can pray Our Father who art in heaven. I give thanks for my family, friends and nature. But I know that my concept of God is much larger and greater than simple idea of God as father. (I use father because I always have. God the Mother is fine and necessary too.)

So what do we do with the concept of evil? I do not blame God for evil. That is something that human being cook up. Concentration camps, holocausts, wars, plane crashes and torture are creations of our human minds and creativity.  Babies born blind and disfigured happen because we humans pollute the planet with our lust for possessions.

What of God is love? The universe our island home is a gift we have. The concept of love is something we humans call the feeling of joy, thanksgiving and peace that comes as we humans relate to each other and to the world we see around us.

I am happy to call love and the beauty of the earth gifts from God of whatever size.

IS MY LIFE WORTH LIVING?

 

I am asking the question, “What is the meaning of my life at 90 3/4 years old.” I have arthritic pain, poor balance, impaired hearing and eyesight. I take a dozen pills a day, plus vitamins. I take CBD gels and Tylenol to relieve arthritic pain.

Is my life really over? Is it worth living longer?

I have a glorious wife who loves and cares for me. My daughters and grandchildren are loving and caring. My many friends are attentive and supporting. We have warm comfortable home, plenty of money and healthy food and booze. I can read, watch good TV movies, exercise and entertain, exercise and walk.

I have fought the good fights for peace, justice for blacks, LGBTs, women and abortion. I served the Episcopal Church and members of my parishes.  Baptized the babies, taught the faith, administered the sacraments, counselled the troubled and buried the dead.

I really have no complaints. The thoughts about the meaning of my life just swim into my consciousness. I am not suicidal. (Terrible coward) I have everything to live for.

New home, moving away somewhere, another cruise, buy more toys, all come to mind but are immediately rejected. More outward stimuli are not the answer. The answer lies within.

I am a Christian Existentialist. I am a follower of Jesus and I accept what is. I live each day questioning, with no clear answers. In fact there are none.

It is like being a pacifist. I know wars will never cease, but I will always be against war. I accept what is.

Oh, well on to wash the pans from last night’s dinner.