Christians are in a relationship with Christ in and through their relationships with other (Main Forum)

by PeterR , Monday, June 18, 2012, 16:12 (367 days ago) @ Sue
edited by PeterR, Monday, June 18, 2012, 16:25

Sue,

Thanks for your interest and your sharing.

If I wanted a straight scripture reference I would use John 15:5 amongst many others:

"I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in reply;
for cut off from me you can do nothing."

I like to "dream" within the scriptures - prayerful dreams.

If I begin with the creation story:

"God said: 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Gen 1:3)

.. similarly for each day of creation.

When we read some passage of literature, we immediately experience a 'knowledge' of who the author is even if his/her name is not attached to the passage. A writer is present in his/her word. That is a very personal presence which is experienced.

God's presence in creation is his personal presence.

When I used speak to groups I would often say after making such a statement: "Don't ask me to describe that presence (in this case), don't ask me to define it: Go and experience it."

Similarly, in each day of creation, God is present in His Creative Word; God is present in the whole of creation.

Did you watch the ABC TV show last night dealing with plants? Moment after moment of that show I was hearing and experiencing the presence of God in His creation. Prayerful psalms cry out to be spoken.

Let's move to John's Gospel - a big jump.

"In the beginning was the Word;
the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things came to be,
not one thing had its being but through him.
All that came to be had life in him
and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness could not overpower." (John 1:1-5)

That provokes many dreams, I'm sure.

"The Word was made flesh,
he lived amongst us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth."

The whole of John 1:1-18 is a favourite patch for scripture dreamers. There is much for scripture scholars as well.

"God is not far from any of us for in him we live and move and have our being." (acts 17:28)

(Don't ask me to define it. Don't ask me to describe it. Go and experience it.)

----

Sue,

Thanks for your message. In late November 2010 I had a heart attack. My heart was stopped for twenty-three minutes. It has been a slow climb back. As a matter of fact I was to have my first outing from home today - apart from Sunday Mass. Whether it was excitement or what else I know not. At about 10 am I felt no heart atack, but suddenly the energy that had built up over recent months suddenly drained away.

I'll take life slowly again for a while.

Peter