Does Every City Have a God?

My five-year-old grandson, Paul David is a deep thinker and a dreamer. He fantasizes about many things, especially superheroes. I always say he’s an up and-coming fiction writer.

He asked his mom one day, “Does every city have a God?”

“No,” my daughter Pam replied, “There is only one God.”

“Did God make water?”

“Yes, God made water.”

Paul David wrinkled his nose. “Naah…maybe his grandfather made water.”

Pam laughed. There goes his active imagination again, she thought. A few weeks later Pam and her kids spent a long weekend in Washington DC with her sister seeing the sites. They went to Sunday service. This was Paul’s first time in another church. As the priest walked in Paul’s eyes widened. He turned to his mom. “You said there is only one God.”

Pam smiled. “Yes, Paul, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

He pointed at the priest. “Well then, who is that?”

She leaned over and whispered, “Paul, that man isn’t God. He’s one of God’s helpers. God has helpers in every church.” 

She had to laugh. His quirky questions about God now made sense.  And now he understood there really is only one God. Someday he will understand there is only one Superhero.

The Naked Salute

I've always said my husband, Frank, has a way with words. He is the master of the well-turned phrase and the quick comeback. Not me. I have to labor over every word.

One day he was exercising after work. As commissioner of the PA State Police he often swims at the training pool at the state police academy. He had the pool to himself, but several cadets were working out in the gym. After leaving the pool Frank entered the locker room to change out of his suit. While standing in front of his locker naked, he heard a voice behind him. "Sir, I didn't give you a proper salute." He turned around and saw a fully clothed cadet standing at attention and saluting.

"That's okay, son," my husband said, "I'm out of uniform."

 I laughed until I cried when I heard this story.The cadet never cracked a smile.

 

Don't Worry Be Happy

Frank and I just got back from a ten day cruise in the Caribbean. I can still feel my toes digging into white sand. Aaah.

This was our first cruise in the middle of winter, and despite the mild temperatures, and no major snow storms while we were gone, it was a much appreciated getaway. Vacations can be a flurry of activity, and mind you, we did plenty of eating, snorkeling, and boating—but rest defined this experience more than anything else. We spent a lot of time in the thermal suite, relaxing in whirlpools, lying on heated tile lounges, and sitting in steam baths and saunas. I paid no attention to my laptop, looked at no emails, wrote no book chapters, and checked no one’s status on Facebook. We read books and watched the sunset. The only bar we visited lay hidden under palm trees on an isolated beach. We ignored the casino, and retired early most evenings. The gentle rocking of the boat and the sound of water slapping the side of the ship lulled us to sleep every night.

The next to last day, I was lying on our bed gazing out the window at the huge expanse called ocean. God’s presence seemed to envelop me. “Be still and know that I am God” from Psalm 46 came to mind. Cease striving and know that I am God, says one of my favorite translations. And suddenly it hit me.

Quit worrying. Quit trying so hard. Don’t think about what happens next. Enjoy this moment. It’s my gift to you.

After a week of relaxing and leaving my cares behind, I thought I was doing that. But at that moment I realized that my head needs to rest as much as my body. Only then can I acknowledge God’s presence. He is in control. Didn’t He say to cast all my cares on Him?

At our last writers’ meeting someone mentioned a book called OneThousand Gifts which talks about the power of gratitude. A mind at rest takes time to be thankful. But can I let my brain pause now that I am back from vacation? I’ll give it my best shot.