Easy Answers

It is always interesting to hear what people have to say about god, and what god is or is not, and the metaphors that they use to define their relation ship with god.

Today, a gentleman I spoke to said that god was like a flashlight. His reasoning was that when you're in the woods, you want a flashlight, of course, so you can see where you're going.

God as a flashlight is an interesting metaphor. I figure this gentleman may not get much beyong car camping. Where does god go when the batteries run out? Doesn't a flashlight make it easier for the cougar to track you? And doesn't having a flashlight on prevent you from being in relationship with, or at the very least taking note of, all the other things that are with you in the woods? If you've spent much time outside at night, you've probably found that after three or four deep breaths it is much easier to see in the dark. Also, with the light off, you've probably noticed that you can hear (and smell) things around you, and you've probably noticed that your gut beomes more aware of the things your other senses don't tell you.

I'm not sure how to define god, but there are some things I can say. God does not require batteries. God does not shield you from being in relationship with that which is about you. God may not protect you from predators, but god won't help them track you down, either (unless they're hungry and their work is more important than yours). If you want to invite god into a situation, a few deep breaths will help you see things more clearly (after all, isn't spirit a root word for breath?). God does not lie to your gut (intuition). Finally, god will not help you see in the dark, though god will help you learn how to do it yourself.