Who is God?

Who is God? Maybe a better question is ‘what is God?’ If you’ve never asked yourself a question like one of these it is something you may want to look in to. These aren’t easy question to ask yourself but it is important to see what answers you come up with. It’s quite possible that everyone would have a different answer but there would most likely be some common themes. The better question to ask is ‘who or what is God to you?’

Is God the man behind the clouds that controls all the blissful and horrible occurrences in life? Is he a man that looks down on us and cries when we cause harm toward each other and smiles at us with every polite thing we do for one another. Is God a woman? Or is God not of any gender? Maybe God just is…or isn’t.

There is only one way to find the answers to these questions and that is to listen. You might be surprised at first how the answers don’t come easily. Take a moment to listen for the answers. I mean, right now, actually take a moment and listen for the answers to our questions.

How many of you thought about what you were doing later today, perhaps the laundry list of things that you need to accomplish today? How many of you played out a conversation you had yesterday with a coworker or spouse, how about playing out a conversation that you intend to have? How many of you heard nothing at all?

For a lot of us, God’s voice is clouded by life. We often can’t hear God’s voice because our minds take control. Sometimes our minds have more power than God. To hear God’s voice we must quiet the thoughts from our brain, which may not be an easy task to do.

We have all heard God before, most of us without even realizing. Sometimes it comes as a spark of compassion for someone that we encounter one day. It comes as a difficult decision somehow made easy. God’s voice comes when we least expect it and often when we expect it, it doesn’t come. So how can we hear God’s voice more often or better yet, how can we hear God’s voice all of the time?

God’s voice comes from within each of us. More often than not it is so soft we can barely hear it, except for those times when the voice is loud enough to stop us in our tracks or awake us from a dead sleep. Usually God’s voice is drowned out by our overbearing thoughts of the mind. To hear God we must quiet our minds. The answers to our questions may not come right away. The answers only come when the time is right, only when we are ready for them.

God gives us guidance. The voice tells us how to live our lives in bliss. The root of living a blissful life stems from compassion for others. How many of us saw a parking space and quickly tried to beat another car to the spot? God’s voice was there but not heard. How many of us walked through a doorway without looking to see if anyone was there to hold the door for? God’s voice was there but not heard. How many of us have seen a neighbor struggling to shovel snow but continued to watch television? God’s voice was there but not heard.

God’s voice is there and we need to learn how to listen to it. We must quiet our minds in order to hear. When our minds our quieted important questions can be asked like ‘who or what is God?’ Let us take another moment. We’ll quiet our minds and ask the necessary questions of life. You’ll be surprised when you hear the answers. The answers were there all the time. When you finally hear them you’ll open your eyes…and you’ll be smiling. Go ahead, take a moment to ask those important questions…and really do it this time.

Europe - Interlaken, Switzerland

Once in Speiz, I took a short train ride to Interlaken. From there I had to take a bus to Iserltwald. Both towns were surrounded by lakes and mountains. This was by far the most beautiful place in Europe that I had seen. Then it began to rain.

I throw on my rain jacket and walked around the town for a little while. I saw ferry boats crossing the lake and there was a beautiful mansion on a peninsula. I stopped at a local store for some bread and fruit. I couldn't believe how beautiful this place was. And the rain got worse.

I ate my loaf of bread with honey on the balcony of the hostel where I was staying. It was delicious, homemade bread. I met my roommates and we went to the bar downstairs with some people from across the hall. After a few drinks and conversation I went back upstairs to hit the sack. The thunder cracked and light flashed.

The most beautiful place in Europe blanketed with dark clouds and drenched in rain.

Coal Mine

It's just another day at the coal mine.

Hustle Bustle

I’m finding now that this adult life can be annoying, frustrating and maddening. I keep waiting for life to slow down and just when I think it will, I find that I am in an even higher gear than before. Especially at this time of year, I force myself to stop for a few moments, take a deep breath, and spend time with family.