I have a very personal relationship with God. We are buds…we get each other. Our relationship is respectful and reverent, yet real. I have long believed that I am one of God’s favorites because I completely understand the commitment we share with each other and the expectation I need to live up to.
Years ago there was a song by Joan Osbourne called One of Us. The song got a lot of push-back as being disrespectful and irreverent in regard to God. I provide a bit of a chopped up excerpt below in case you missed all the uproar in the mid-nineties over it.
If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question
If God had a face what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in jesus and the saints and all the prophets
And yeah yeah God is great yeah yeah God is good
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
He’s trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
Except for the pope maybe in Rome
I thought the song was a statement on bringing faith into everyday life and I thought it refreshing…alas, there were those who screamed, "Blasphemy!" I like the concept of bringing God into everyday life. It has been said that all human beings have a bit of divinity in them (as we are all children of God) and I like it when we are reminded of the importance of carrying that with us on a day-to-day basis. I liked Osbourne’s song because it reminded me that true faith is not merely a Sunday event, but a lifestyle that translates across settings and experiences.
So, when I saw the card below at the airport in June I had to buy it. It embodied the type of relationship I believe I have with God – a real one that is understanding of both my humanness and my connection with God. ..a connection that is real, palatable and ever present in my life…a connection that allows me to have such conversations. I am sure there are those who upon seeing this will proclaim, "Blasphemy!" But think about it, isn’t being real with your God a requirement? Isn’t each relationship with God supposed to be specific to the individual? Isn’t God supposed to be the go to for the big questions and a source of comfort?
I think so…and in my relationship with God it is okay to ask questions in a way I am comfortable with and to say things like, "God is good and in the neighborhood!" That is the really cool thing about God…God’s biggest concern is not the mundane details of language. God is really all about the action…live your life as if God was one of us…treat others with a recognition that they too carry a piece of God with them…and when things go south in your life feel free to say, "Dude…WTF?" and then wait for the answer – it will come. 😉
Day three hundred and seventy-one of the new forty – obla di obla da
Ms. C
THE NEW FORTY 
What if God is a woman, as some seem to think………do we still refer to her as dude?
That card has too much wrong with it for my liking. It sounds like something a johnny dynamite would utter, or, one of the lead characters in the movie dumb and dumber. It’s too trendy, too juvenile. It’s simply pop culture vernacular, and it lacks reverence.
And we all know what “WTF” stands for, don’t we. So, we’re supposed to come to God, in our time of need, and address him in that manner? Really? Whew! Good luck to ya.
Some may say oh lighten up, this is 2010. Yeah it is. But, who’s changed, us, or God? God is, as he’s always been. He’s God, not a dude. I don’t know……….anything other than God seems disrespectful, and insincere. Dude is way too contemporary. But then, I’m in my mid 50’s. I’m sure teens would have a different take on it. Just my humble opinion.
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Love it! As someone who has recently had ALOT of “Dude, WTF” moments with God, I can definitely relate!
To the “wanderer”…WTF is a phase made up by us, determined to be “bad” by US…not God. I agree that God deserves respect, but I also think that he is VERY real and understands the concepts of pop culture. The point being, he just wants us to turn to him, love him, and make him a part of our lives…WTF or not. To some, making him personal and real in their life is calling him “Dude”….
To all of the those searching for a real God; you won’t find him church..church is just a way to celebrate him and his goodness… but you will find him in the homeless person on the street, the neighbor that is difficult to deal with, the abused child, etc, etc….make him real and not an icon. Do something nice for a fellow man/woman today and watch God work.
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Since the “F” in “WTF” is indeed an obscenity, I think not only us, but also God would determine it to be bad. How would you handle your child coming up to you and uttering “Hi mom, how the “F” are you? C’mon. I don’t think the God that I know and love would welcome that.
God is everywhere, not only in a church, but he can be found in a church. Maybe we’re of differing religious philosophys. That’s OK.
I won’t get to heaven by good deeds. I simply have to accept Jesus Christ as my personal saviour. That’s it. My God does not keep a tally on who is the nicest, or who helps the under priviledged the most. Those are good things, but those alone will not buy a ticket to heaven. Plenty of confusion out there, because man has invented too many religions, all with their idiosyncrasies. Who is right? We’ll find out come judgement day.
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Tam & Wanderer ~ I think the beauty of this discussion is indeed the discussion itself.
I maintain my position re: actions being more important than words…the point of this piece is not to emphasize saying the “F” word to God. The point is to emphasize the realness of the relationship and the fact that God is to be found in others as well…faith is not a Sunday sport – it is a daily relationship.
I must say one thing though – while God may not keep a tally on good deeds – there is something to be said about living in the spirit of your faith. For me personally, I don’t believe just saying you accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior is enough to fulfill your commitment to God – I believe faith should be lived and permeate one’s life. And I don’t do good things to get to heaven…I do good things because I believe that is my personal commitment to God.
I believe that I live my life in accordance with God’s plan for me.
As for heaven – well, wherever I go it will be one helluva’ party and I am comfortable with the fact that God knows where my heart and intent are at. 😉
Thank you both for contributing your thoughts…I appreciate it.
Carol
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