by John Biggs
All these places I’ve been…all the places I’m going…all the places I hope to go, or maybe places I have no plan of going to…whether I think of them as physical locations, mental states, or social or employment situations, there are so many places to choose from, or simply be put in. And sometimes it hits me that no matter where I go or what I do, there’s someone or some thing left behind.
But what if I didn’t think of place as one thing inherently separate from other places? What if I looked past the senses, no matter how beautiful or ugly, and simply saw this place as a day of salvation and an opportunity to glorify God?
With this perspective, goodness, beauty, joy, my peace, and the peace of those around me (in person or thought) wouldn’t be subject to anything except God’s eternal grace, given day by day.
I’m thinking about some passages that I know well… “Day by day the manna fell…” (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 46), “Give us this day our daily bread,” and “Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections.” These all speak to the absolute importance of focusing all our attention on God right now, right here.
This idea of place as God’s place includes everyone and everything in that place. Suddenly it hit me: I had to quit thinking of myself as less smart, less attractive, less capable than others…in fact, in any relation or comparison to anyone else. I couldn’t ever be in a wrong place of any kind. I’ve decided to try to think only in terms of how God would judge me.
Am I truly living as if I believe and know that Love, God, is all? Since everyone and everything in God’s place is His creation, it is important to honor that birthright. And I shouldn’t feel as though I don’t have access to that birthright if something doesn’t seem to be turning out exactly as I wanted. Since God’s place contains all good, all the daily grace we need, then I can be satisfied with all of that good, right now.
Spending every day learning to understand and express God’s allness would be no waste of a day, that’s for sure. How could I miss anything if I’m striving to realize everything, the allness of good? I love in Luke, where it says, “seek ye rather the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” I don’t have to pick and choose and prioritize what good things to seek. Truly striving to see and express God, I will be given all—or rather, I will see that I already always have all, so I can give freely and without fear.
Now, these thoughts didn’t come about because I’ve been having a poor time in New Zealand. Far from it! It’s excellent here, and such a pleasure to get to know my extended family, whom I haven’t seen in a long time. But I’m so glad these thoughts did come because they’re definitely thoughts from God. Why settle for a great experience when I can have, give, and experience a perfect time?
Matt 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.
17:5 ( to 2nd ; )
Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections;
I found this article peaceful and refreshing. Thanks!
I really like the idea of spending every day learning to understand and express God’s allness and also the idea of giving without fear because we have all. It makes me think of our true purpose for being which is to express and glorify God.