I have the deepest respect for Pagan myths, still more for myths in Holy Scripture.
- C. S. Lewis
Monday, October 30, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Working on the Car
The Working on the Car analogy to which Erin refers is something that I now can't remember if I read somewhere and altered, or something that just came to me. If I am indeed plagarising it, I confess myself of it at this point, and offer my apologies to the true author. For the sake of fairness, let's say that this is someone else's analogy, and I am merely echoing it:
Liken your relationship with God to the image of a father and his son. They find themselves one Saturday afternoon out in the driveway. The father's torso tucked under the hood of a car, the son standing by at the ready. The father is doing all the work. He knows what job is necessary to complete the needed repairs. The son waits in anxious anticipation for any instructions from his father on how he might assist in the process. The father is doing it all. Then, to the son's delight, the father calls for the son, and asks that he bring a particular tool. The son jumps at the opportunity to lend a hand. He identifies the tool his father requested, and delivers it with glee. His glee is pure, and stems from the chance to simply play a small role in assisting his father. The father could have gotten the tool himself, could have ignored the eager child waiting by his side, but instead, he was pleased by the child's eagerness, and wanted him to be a part of his work. Once the tool is handed from the son to the father, the father surprises the boy. He asks his son to come closer, and watch what he intends to do with the tool. The father demonstrates the use of the tool for the particular job he has in mind. He walks the son through the repair work to be done. Then, the father hands the son the tool and says, "You do it. I'm right here, and will help when you need it, but do it just like I showed you." The son trembles with excitement and fear. He wants nothing more than to please his father, and show him that he's a good son. The boy tries, but fails miserably at reproducing the manuever he had just watched his father perform. The child sulks, and feels great regret and shame for the way he believes he's just disappointed his father. But the father is far from disappointed. The father is overwhelmed with pleasure, beaming with joy because he knows how much his son wants to please him. He tells his son, "It's alright, try again, you're doing fine. You're learning. This is how I meant to teach you. Someday you will be able to do this on your own. One day, after practice and guidance, you will be an expert at this."
In one way or another, that story, or analogy, or illustration was inspiring to someone I shared it with. So, I bring it here for the millions (not) of readers of this blog to see.
I now approach the morning where I go to visit my earthly father in the hospital. He's been admitted due to suffereing through life threatening withdrawal symptoms after a day without alcohol. I go to see him in hopes of encouraging him to stay for the prescribed time to detox with medical supervision. I pray to the Father of us both that his pride will be broken, that his will will fail, and he will finally rely on others for his steps to freedom. Wish us luck.
Liken your relationship with God to the image of a father and his son. They find themselves one Saturday afternoon out in the driveway. The father's torso tucked under the hood of a car, the son standing by at the ready. The father is doing all the work. He knows what job is necessary to complete the needed repairs. The son waits in anxious anticipation for any instructions from his father on how he might assist in the process. The father is doing it all. Then, to the son's delight, the father calls for the son, and asks that he bring a particular tool. The son jumps at the opportunity to lend a hand. He identifies the tool his father requested, and delivers it with glee. His glee is pure, and stems from the chance to simply play a small role in assisting his father. The father could have gotten the tool himself, could have ignored the eager child waiting by his side, but instead, he was pleased by the child's eagerness, and wanted him to be a part of his work. Once the tool is handed from the son to the father, the father surprises the boy. He asks his son to come closer, and watch what he intends to do with the tool. The father demonstrates the use of the tool for the particular job he has in mind. He walks the son through the repair work to be done. Then, the father hands the son the tool and says, "You do it. I'm right here, and will help when you need it, but do it just like I showed you." The son trembles with excitement and fear. He wants nothing more than to please his father, and show him that he's a good son. The boy tries, but fails miserably at reproducing the manuever he had just watched his father perform. The child sulks, and feels great regret and shame for the way he believes he's just disappointed his father. But the father is far from disappointed. The father is overwhelmed with pleasure, beaming with joy because he knows how much his son wants to please him. He tells his son, "It's alright, try again, you're doing fine. You're learning. This is how I meant to teach you. Someday you will be able to do this on your own. One day, after practice and guidance, you will be an expert at this."
In one way or another, that story, or analogy, or illustration was inspiring to someone I shared it with. So, I bring it here for the millions (not) of readers of this blog to see.
I now approach the morning where I go to visit my earthly father in the hospital. He's been admitted due to suffereing through life threatening withdrawal symptoms after a day without alcohol. I go to see him in hopes of encouraging him to stay for the prescribed time to detox with medical supervision. I pray to the Father of us both that his pride will be broken, that his will will fail, and he will finally rely on others for his steps to freedom. Wish us luck.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Everything is Under Control?
I don’t hate God because I don’t believe God is fully in control of this world yet. Heck, God is not fully in control of me yet, even when I want Him to be, so how could I possibly believe that God is making it all happen out there in the street?
- Bart Campolo
- Bart Campolo
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