MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023 - EASTER TWO

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2023 - EASTER II

So, yesterday was Easter Sunday

So, a more universal look at God.

Psalm 40:16 says “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, “The LORD be magnified!””

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

In C.S. Lewis' children’s books about Narnia, the “Last Battle” has a Calorman who is seeking God (or Aslan as He is known in those books).  The Calormen people are not Aslan followers, but this man is seeking for a real God - not Tash the god of the Calormen.  He hears that Aslan is in a particular place and as he is seeking God, wants to explore this potential Aslan sighting. The implication (at least to me), was that those not quite in the “fold” can still be seeking God.

I find I have an infinity with those who are searching for God, for meaning. My friend JA is seeking God.  Her perception of God is “Ahh”.  I know others that don’t have the label of “Christian” attached to them, that are seeking a relationship with “The Infinite”.  Is my version correct?  Is their version correct?

I don’t really know.  

I know that I can get to New York City a lot of ways - many roads get there, I can fly to JFK, Laguardia, or Newark airports. I could take a train to Penn Station or to Grand Central Station.  Some ships arrive in NYC daily.  Those that are REALLY wanting to get to New York City and scraping up every dollar to get there will eventually make it.  

Is finding God like finding an alternate way to New York City?  

Matthew 13:44-46 give two stories:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

These two stories illustrate that the man and the merchant were looking for a treasure (or a pearl of great value).  

Are we looking for something beyond us so far - seeking it with all of our hearts?  

*****

Last week I wrote about death.  Is there a goal to be reached before we die?  Is there a treasure we should find?  

Felix Mendelssohn wrote these lyrics for an oratorio:

“If with all your heart ye truly seek Me,

Ye shall ever surely find Me,
Thus saith our God.
If with all your heart ye truly seek Me,
Ye shall ever surely find Me,
Thus saith our God. Thus saith our God.

Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might even come before His presence.
Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might even come before His presence, come before His presence.
Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.

If with all your heart ye truly seek Me,

Ye shall ever surely find Me,

Thus saith our God.

Ye shall ever surely find Me,

Thus saith our God.

Did you read that second stanza - “Oh that I knew where I might find Him”.  Mendelssohn wants to come into God’s presence.  Do all of us?

*****

I think I’m on a good path to finding my “pearl of great price”.  But, I really don’t want to judge somebody else who is legitimately seeking their “pearl of great price”.  

For me, I accept John 14:7, where Jesus says “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”.  But, maybe that is because of my upbringing and desires.  

Can a Buddhist who is seeking deeper truth and peace find it?  I don’t know, but it seems reasonable. 

Can a Muslim who is seeking deeper truth and peace find it?  I don’t know, but it seems reasonable.

Can anyone (like the Calorman in the C.S. Lewis book) who is seeking deeper truth and peace find it?  I believe so!!!

I am looking at my personal posters on my wall as I write this:

Micah 6:8 - What does God expect of me, but to love justice, show mercy and walk humbly with God.

Matthew 27:36-39, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

And … LOVE WINS

Yes, I have a long way to go.  Yes, I am sometimes tossed and turned by the wind, like an old sailing ship in a gale.  

But (as Robert Frost might have said), “I have miles to go before I sleep”.

*****

Happy Easter

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, APRIL 10, 2023