Musings from Phil French

Moving In A Mysterious Way

Many astronomers now believe in "exoplanets" - planets orbiting distant stars. Perhaps there's even life on some of them? (Will they have all the same needs as we do?). That idea is a bit "big" for some folk! But try not to worry. When Galileo suggested that the Earth went round the Sun, he challenged Papal authority! But he also made humans feel they were NO LONGER at the exact centre of the Universe! Rather shocking at the time.

Humans do love to think that the whole Universe revolves around THEM! (But not, of course, around "other" tribes, as we read in the Old Testament). News can be disturbing. But we've been told that our Creator "moves in a mysterious way", so we'd better hold tight; and learn what we can.

BIG MYSTERIES?

The word "epiphany" reminded me of St. Paul. He had an experience, I'm told, that turned Saul, the awful persecutor, into a much-revered SAINT PAUL!

I was asked recently if I'd had any epiphanies myself. I hesitated. Folk might think I was pretending to be a saint (in today's meaning)! Oops, not quite there yet. But an epiphany might be just the next lesson, or first aid for a sufferer?

Yes, as I've said before, I had a little "epiphany" when I was only about six. I was crying: I wanted help! Something happened. I no longer felt that God was a tough judge, a remote being up in the sky—but in lots of ways the essence of life all around me (and in me?).

I felt IMPERFECT(!), and VERY SMALL in a vast universe. But at the same time I felt supported and loved. Mystery?

St Augustine said: "God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!"

Difficult notion for anyone using a typical smallish picture of God. Today, I see many mysteries, both in physics and in theology. but, one day I hope ...

STICKS & CARROTS?

Once upon a time, folk said: "Never say no to your child!" Not good! It worked SO BADLY that its' tiny grain of wisdom can get lost.

A tough telling-off can make the "controller" seem an unforgiving ENEMY! Result? A child that's obedient ONLY out of fear - longing to REBEL, FEEL POWERFUL, FREE!! (I felt it, remember?) Expect problems.

Dealing with such things can be hard. But there are cunning ways of hinting (perhaps just after bad moments) that the advisor is a friend, striving to prevent trouble. My old school teachers pointed out our mistakes very firmly. But quite often, they'd soon follow it with a bit of praise. They wanted to be HELPFUL FRIENDS,

NOT ENEMIES!

Some religious speakers might copy? And "thinking positive" like this can even pay when you're TELLING YOURSELF OFF (seriously!).

And Finally

"I think the key isn’t to think about what would happen if Jesus came back right now, I think the important thing is to treat everyone as if He never left… " --- Anon, I think? --