How are you?

            When I wake, one of the first things I do is say, “Good morning God!” Some days are more enthusiastic than others. When I greet another human being, I usually follow that greeting with, “how are you?” This morning it occurred to me that I don’t ask God how he is. I have been contemplating this idea, how are you God? Obviously, given his attributes of omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience it is easy to follow the train of thought that he has everything in check. Despite that; I think of him in human terms and I can’t help but feel he is; not mad but disappointed (cringe). When he looks at creation, like a parent gazing on the wreckage of a kid’s toy room, wouldn’t there be disappointment?

            As I contemplated that, my meandering mind led me to consider guilt. The guilt that leads to the disappointment of others. Every culture I have known lays claim to guilt; Lutheran guilt, Catholic guilt, Jewish guilt, Italian guilt and so on. Truth be told, we’re all guilty of something, many things really. I believe this speaks to the fact that there is a right and wrong. I have met people who argue this point, saying there is no such thing as right and wrong. We don’t have to teach a child to do wrong, it comes naturally.  Even a small child inherently knows when certain things are wrong, he will typically choose to commit such an act in a private place. Kids play with matches in closets (unfortunately) because they know it is wrong. Sins are committed in secret places, if they weren’t sinful, they could be done openly.  I believe it is a sign of the times that we are seeing more and more crimes committed in broad daylight, we are losing the sense of right and wrong. The farther society wanders from God the wider the pendulum swings for what is acceptable.

            Back to my original question; how are you God? The blessing of grace is that God is who he is regardless of our behavior. We love because he first loved us and amazingly, he continues to love us no matter how trashed our toy room is!  Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When I encounter a friend whose response to ‘how are you’ is less than enthusiastic, I am compelled to dig a little deeper to make their day better. Even though my behavior doesn’t change his feelings for me, (he already loves me) I am compelled to dig deeper to make God’s day better too (if that’s possible). My best answer as to how to do that is to show his love to others, mind you that I am not necessarily successful at this on a daily basis. But when I do make the effort, I find that my day is better too.

            Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”