Putting God in a Box

Recently, I went to a local program on the Aramaic Our Father and it blew me away. This vivid, life-giving, beautiful language gave the Our Father a whole new meaning for me. It opened up a whole new world of experiencing God through this prayer.

From that point on, I continued to have experiences of God being larger than my box. 

Experiencing Christ’s words and presence in Christians of other denominations. Feeling a movement in my heart to focus on unity and oneness vs. what divides, and to simplify my faith and focus on love of God and neighbor.

Beginning a board role that opened me up to broader spiritual ecumenical conversations and programs. Being challenged to develop a prayer and reflection night based on reading, poetry and music vs. Scripture.

Experiencing God less in my spiritual attachments like Mass and Catholic prayers and more in everyday life and situations -- even a painting class and secular music.

Not being as stirred by a homily or typical Catholic way of being touched by God, but being stirred by a caring and loving action by another who I would have never put in my box of places to experience God. 

In all these ways, God was expanding my experience of Him. He is everywhere and in everyone. He is bigger than the box I have put Him in. I limited God’s work in my life, and my ability to experience Him in each moment, because I didn’t expand my vision of who He is and where He is.

The Church is just one place where we can and do experience the Lord, but He's in so many other places.

May our experience of God widen and expand beyond our box so that God can show us His infinite presence and omnipotence, and so that we can be continually awed in wonder and surprised in faith when we see Him work in the most unexpected places.