Day 11: Becoming Best Friends with God
The chapter starts with, "God wants to be my best friend." Is this desire forever? What happens if one lives by Christian values but never establishes that "best friend" relationship with God? What is judgment like for that person? I believe Rick intended for the idea to be comforting, but I feel like there's a lot more to know before one can truly believe the statement.
I don't know the Biblical story behind the "veil in the temple", but I'm curious what first blocked direct access to God in the Old Testament... The quote from Corinthians 5:18a adds further complexity to the situation by insinuating that we, humans were once enemies of God. This is strange, because isn't God the creator of all things?
Constant prayer and conversation with God is a very nice thought. I actually wish that my grandma in China could believe in and enact this habit, as I suspect it will help her cope much better emotionally and mentally with everything that's happened and is happening in her life. Actually, for both my grandmothers.
I felt a smile creep up as I read Rick's not-so-subtle explanation of the difference between worry and meditation. His differentiation sounds too much like a re-packaging of Christine doctrine for me to believe at face value, especially after he earlier said, "Meditation is simply focused thinking." I am sure that meditating on God's word will bring peace to a person, but doesn't that person still have to tend to the matters of this life? Eventually?
I think I've already pondered this point when I first opened the chapter. At the end of the chapter, now, I still feel that saying God wants to be my best friend is a very positive statement that is hard to believe.
Interestingly enough, though, I find similarities here to what I envision a better world to be. In a better world, everyone will want to be everyone else's best friend. This is not to say that we all will be, but the implication is that we all wish each other the best and would never do anything to the detriment of another fellow human. I suppose in the case of God, Rick is imploring us to trust that God wants nothing but the best for us and would be our best friend if we wish it.
This is actually really, really interesting (I know I use this word a lot), because I constantly feel like I have too many ideas and thoughts and no one to talk to. Maybe I can start by hypothesizing that God exists and talk to God in my mind as I ponder the questions to which I currently have no answers.
Hrmm... This is not meant to be a snarky comment, but maybe God is the imaginary friend that we sometimes believe a child to have.
I don't know the Biblical story behind the "veil in the temple", but I'm curious what first blocked direct access to God in the Old Testament... The quote from Corinthians 5:18a adds further complexity to the situation by insinuating that we, humans were once enemies of God. This is strange, because isn't God the creator of all things?
Constant prayer and conversation with God is a very nice thought. I actually wish that my grandma in China could believe in and enact this habit, as I suspect it will help her cope much better emotionally and mentally with everything that's happened and is happening in her life. Actually, for both my grandmothers.
I felt a smile creep up as I read Rick's not-so-subtle explanation of the difference between worry and meditation. His differentiation sounds too much like a re-packaging of Christine doctrine for me to believe at face value, especially after he earlier said, "Meditation is simply focused thinking." I am sure that meditating on God's word will bring peace to a person, but doesn't that person still have to tend to the matters of this life? Eventually?
Point to Ponder: God wants to be my best friend.
I think I've already pondered this point when I first opened the chapter. At the end of the chapter, now, I still feel that saying God wants to be my best friend is a very positive statement that is hard to believe.
Interestingly enough, though, I find similarities here to what I envision a better world to be. In a better world, everyone will want to be everyone else's best friend. This is not to say that we all will be, but the implication is that we all wish each other the best and would never do anything to the detriment of another fellow human. I suppose in the case of God, Rick is imploring us to trust that God wants nothing but the best for us and would be our best friend if we wish it.
Question to Consider: What can I do to remind myself to think about God and talk to him more often throughout the day?
This is actually really, really interesting (I know I use this word a lot), because I constantly feel like I have too many ideas and thoughts and no one to talk to. Maybe I can start by hypothesizing that God exists and talk to God in my mind as I ponder the questions to which I currently have no answers.
Hrmm... This is not meant to be a snarky comment, but maybe God is the imaginary friend that we sometimes believe a child to have.