Dear Reader, imagine yourself at birth.
Born without worldly power yet made in the image of God!! So just as a seed holds within it all the 'information' for it to grow into - for example, an oak tree, or a beautiful flower - so have we all the DNA and Spiritual possibilities for us to become all God intended for us - becoming the 'Divine Image'...growing ultimately into the Divine Likeness through choosing for our human will to embrace thegrace and purposes of God.
What enables, or prevents us, from growing into the Divine Likeness?
Lets start with the Image of God. Jesus himself says that little children are held in the Kingdom of God. Wow! Does this mean they are pure and without blemish just because they are children? Unfortunately not! I remember my dog who had such a beautiful nature - playful, patient and will for good with all, providing I gave her the right amount of love, kindness and right attention. Even when she wanted more play-time and didn't want to get back in the car, if I sat with her - and promised her more walking later, and showed I had heard her need, she would put herself back in the car - and do what was necessary for that moment. And we too, with openness to God's love can persevere in loving kindness.
But my situation changed and sometimes my work load was so heavy that I had little time for long walks. So I allowed someone else to take my dog into the park. But one day she came back alone, with a bite on her leg. She had been given too much freedom, and without care had been atttacked by another dog. This changed her trusting and loving nature to some extent, and she was reacting like a hurt dog. When it happened a second time - with consequent large vet bills, my trusting nature was challenged too! And this is what happens with children if they do not have the right parental care, consistent boundaries, loving freedom, learning opportunities and playing in order to grow in the image that God gave.
Experience has challenged their God-given trust in 'what is' and the ability to ride the waves of life in faith that He will always provide. You will all have seen children who have learned to scream and shout in order to get their own way - and the more the parents give in to this behaviour - the more likely they are to do it more - everytime they get out of their 'comfort zones' of knowing what is going on. We all need to own our discomfort - but trust God will provide - either through those around, or directly through prayer. Even Jesus was challenged by different people who came to Him, when He thought He had just been sent for the Jews for example. But He TRUSTED in what He saw the Father doing. And a well-loved child, who has been taught that changes happen, that we all feel uncomfortable at times, will accept an alteration, or the need to change their thinking about something. This is living in the image of God - Christ made incarnate as man - but trusting in the Father and obedient to Him.
Dearest Reader maybe you too recognise these situations in yourself? When we are overwhelmed by life events our natural, God-given ability to let things go and simply get on with the next event, happening, book etc, is blocked by hidden fear, unmet needs, and a will to keep ourselves 'safe', and to judge others because we feel ourselves 'judged'. Without understanding what we are doing we tend to keep our world 'narrow' in areas where we feel safe. Myself for example, I became a work-a-holic and I was afraid to rock the boat of other people's apparent expectations. This means we have lost our image of God, because we can no longer respond in Love to the invitations and fullness of Life. And in my case the dog suffered, in other people's cases their children suffer.
But the Life we seek is hidden in Christ, in God, if we keep seeking, knocking and asking. Dear Reader LISTEN to the still small voice of discomfort in you, and see what your heart is saying to you. What questions do you want to ask of God? Tell Him your anger - He knows anyway but it will do you good to release it from its bitter cave in your body. This is part of our healing, re-gaining humility - and coming back to that TRUST that brings Peace beyond words.
I truly believe that the second phase of our relationship with God is the most beautiful, despite all the grace I was given to serve children, students and teachers when I was in education. 'Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven', said Jesus. What does this mean?
I reached exhaustion as I clung to the work I had been given to do in Education. But I totally denied my own needs. When I was in despair He called my Name, and despite my apparent lack of faith, something in me knew that I was loved and I was entering a new phase of life. In humility, I wanted to 'Thank' this Thing that had called my name and given me hope and I wanted to thank 'Him' so I started going to church. That was 33 years ago...
But in that time my hardened heart has been challenged many times as He has invited, and enabled me to stand in His Likeness - being His Love and purity of Heart to broken people. NEVER judging - Never asking more of them than they can give- never abandoning a 'bruised reed'- always praying and asking for Christ's Love and Mercy to sustain and provide. I've had to accept the horror of my childhood conception, birth and early years...but the wonder of God's upholding. And Dear Reader, everyday - I need to re-commit to His Likeness as daily bits of the broken-heart rise from the darkness and need the tender mercy of God the Father, through Christ and the Holy Spirit - I need the tenderness and explanation I gave to the dog by the boot of the car in order to say Ok Lord - Your Will be done.. I believe, help Thou my unbelief.
These facets are part of who we are dear Soul; part of who you are - when we accept the fullness of who we are in and through our Lord and God....the human Child of God with all our weaknesses, and the Holy Seed seeking to live for God's purposes - in His Likeness in Christ - willing to be obedient even unto death. But we don't get there by 'thinking it out'!
If we stay with our broken image we are wanting to remain 'in charge' and 'controlling' people and situations rather than continue to grow and release all to to a 'bigger'work that needs our growth in the Inner Man...... one of our stumbling blocks is lack of humility. We may have received spiritual gifts with great understanding and believe we see how they should be used - but if our human will leaps ahead of the Divine reality and we walk over people, and the needs of others, and indeed our own needs, because we have not taken time to Listen to God and the Way of the Cross - we lose, or never know that Peace that passes all understanding.
This is why the Theotokos, St Mary the Mother of God, is such an inspiration and model. Through her purity and humility she was chosen to bear Christ, and to raise Him, learning obedience to His parents, until she was given grace to release Him into His Divine service, to be obedient to the Father and the Holy Spirit. The changing of water into wine for the wedding feast, Christ's first miracle, was a result, not of Mary's human will, but her listening to the Father's Will, and through her intuitive Knowing, be willing to stand against Christ's refusal, 'My time has not yet come', and tell the servants to do what He told them. Then Christ 'heard' and was obedient ot the Father's Will as the Holy Spirit spoke through Him to instruct the servants.
We need humility and trust in the Holy Spirit giving us Life and Truth to share, that we may be willing to live to become more and more conformed to His Likeness, and encourage others to 'stand' in the Love and Power of Christ. Amen