Email: After the storms [EH]

There’s nothing wrong with you. You are good and have a heart of gold. But love (like salvation) can’t be “earned.”

We don’t know when or why God answers our prayers. It’s just our part to be faithful till he does -- in his way and in his timing.

I could have chosen to get mad 12+ times when a woman I had dated met the man she wanted to marry right after we broke up. Did I want a wife more than I wanted such a woman’s happiness? No. So I was happy for her. (I thought it was a curious chronic coincidence that might indicate I’m a good luck charm or something. Nah! I was just happy no one ran off and joined the Symbionese Lesbian Liberation Party after our breakup.) I don’t think God can give us the desire of our hearts when our hands are clenched too tightly to open up and receive. I think it’s only when we can truly “let go and let God” that he can get our attention.

We usually don’t argue with God (so much) over what is good for us. We are usually at odds with him over the timing or the mode of its delivery. (We usually think our understanding and expectations are better.) I suggest we let go of our expectations and remain open to any creative way that God might respond -- because if there’s one thing we know, God is creative.

It’s true that many spiritual needs can be met by becoming more emotionally (subjectively) involved -- by committing ourselves to a course of action, esp. where it involves service to others for their good. But I suspect that almost as many spiritual needs can be met by becoming a bit more detached (objective) in order to “see what is really going on” -- around us and in us. An athlete doesn’t just study technique; to practice and succeed, he or she must be aware of and master the body that is to make the vision come true. Physically and spiritually, we need to be lithe and limber at the same time; focused and flexible; taut and attuned.