ADVISOR TO GOD

“LET ME GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE”

Many People want to serve the Lord, but only in an advisory capacity.

(Seen on a sign outside a church)

Of all the attributes we believe God has, one that is most necessary is a sense of humor. We know he has one. Look at the duck-billed platypus.  Luckily, his love is so boundless, he puts up with those who wish to advise him on the outcome of their petitions and those who are 911 prayers - only pray in emergencies.

I knew a man once who told me that during WWII he prayed with abandon while shells burst over his head and bullets hit the ground around him.  Then, when there was a lull and he was allowed to go into the nearby town, he behaved with another kind of abandon until he returned to the trenches.  He said that one night while he was calling on God, he was suddenly fully aware of his hypocrisy.  He said that from that moment on he put his trust in God and pledged to live his life as God would want.  He had made it through, and in appearance was just like everyone else, but inside there beat the heart of a true believer.  He told me that he probably wouldn’t be completely satisfied until he could see God and apologize in person. 

If only more people would allow themselves to recognize the fact that God is always there, always aware of what we need.  Jesus told us that God knows what we need before we ask, but we don’t pray that way.  We truly do think of ourselves as advisors to God.  It’s a bit like when we are sure that we know how the coach or manager should have handled his team When we pray, we usually have a pretty good idea how we want to be answered.  Jesus also told us that God’s ways are not our ways and God’s time is not our time, but we turn a deaf ear.  A lady told me she said her rosary three times a day.  When I asked why on earth so often, she said it was because she wanted to keep God’s attention.  Oh my. 

Happily we cannot influence God by such foolishness.  Even in scripture, humans appear to be trying to define God in their own terms. But God is as immense as all the universes combined and as close as your next heartbeat, and he cannot be defined in human terms. We must not draw God into our pettiness.  He won’t fit.  Besides that, we do ourselves a disservice since we have the ultimate friend in God and we don’t know it.  

Lent is a really good time to spend getting to know God better.  If you feel guilty for not giving up chocolate, remember that God said, “I don’t want your sacrifices. I want you to love one another.”  Read the daily scriptures and think about them. Look up things you don’t understand.  Remember Google?  Google has no prejudices; it will look up whatever you want.  We do more research hiring a contractor or baby sitter than we do in getting to know our Creator.  The beauty of God is that there is no downside to knowing Him better.  The deeper you dig into the words of God and of Jesus, the happier and more comfortable you will be. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA