Both Far and Near

There’s an old story about a boy who notices his pastor contemplating names on a memorial wall. The boy walks up and asks the pastor what she’s reading. The pastor answers, “These are the names of the people who died in the service.” The boy gets very quiet – then he asks, “Which service, the 9 or the 11?”

In biblical times, people believed that if you saw the face of God you would not live to tell about it. God was seen as too Holy, too Other. In fact, in ancient Judaism, God’s name was so sacred that you couldn’t even say it out loud. 

On the other hand, Jesus spoke of God as Abba, Father, an intimate term in those days. He invited us into a relationship based on love, not fear – which is beautiful. However, sometimes I wonder if we have not taken that to the far extreme. Sometimes I wonder if we have not lost a sense of wonder and awe at the presence of God.

Today, I pray that you would find yourself somewhere in the balance. May you draw near to the loving Father who is the dynamic fiery energy that gave birth to the stars. May you trust the One whose hands stretched out the heavens, whose breath gives life, who is Awesome and Holy and Almighty – and whose way is love.

Let us pray: Eternal God, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. You hold the earth in the palm of your hands, and all of creation was designed to give you praise. Bless us, O God, with a reverent sense of your presence that we may be filled with your peace. We worship you, we adore you, we praise you. And we draw near to you now, trusting in your mercy, your grace, and your love, through Jesus Christ. Amen.