And Now for a Few Words from The Distant Thunder

Why did God let that happen to me?  A loving God wouldn’t have taken my son! Why would a loving God let mankind become so evil? Where is He? Etc etc.

Boy, have we got a laundry list of complaints for St Peter when we get to those pearly gates (if you believe all that angel-and-harp nonsense).

Let’s keep this theology stuff simple, O.K?

Let’s start with one thing we can agree upon: we call God, Father, don’t we? At least the lion’s share of us do. O.K. Now since when did your father want to be worshipped? Mine didn’t. Any daddies out there expecting to be worshipped? Now I bet not one would stand up and declare, “Yup! That would be me!”

O.K. So why do we think the Heavenly Father expects to be worshipped or for that matter, lived in fear of?

So what does a father want of his children? To be acknowledged, maybe? To be known? To be loved and appreciated? To know that his love is known and appreciated?  To embrace his children, laugh with them and share every possible aspect of life that he can get his hands on. Why not? Sounds healthy to me.

However: how many fathers do you know would be thrilled with an invitation to a hoarder’s filthy apartment? How many fathers do you know would accept an invitation from someone who has just accused him of being cruel and indifferent? (See above.) How many fathers do you know who would like to hear his name being used as a cuss word? How many fathers would enjoy being trashed for not supporting his child’s drug habit?

O.K.? Why can’t we apply this same awareness to the Heavenly Father… a somewhat more grand figure? Wouldn’t you say it might behoove us to clean up our homes, do the dishes as it were and be prepared to set a nice table before inviting the Heavenly Father to pay us a visit?

Until then, who can blame Him for remaining at a distance? Rumbling like "the still small voice" of distant thunder.

We can hardly blame the Heavenly Father for making Himself somewhat scarce while we the teddibly impahtant know better than Him anyway.

As to His rather lackluster response to our invitation to join us: I can hear the words of distant thunder now: “Thanks but no thanks.”