God Visits In Many Shapes And Forms

                                         God Visits In Many Shapes And forms

 Eileen Renders

   An encounter with God, I believe, happens every day to different people in separate instances, both here and in faraway places. Reflecting on this concept is actually, as simple as a dying person seeing a golden Chariot coming to collect him. Sitting on a beach in the early evening and watching a sunset can often cover us with a blanket of understanding and peace. God is always there for us, it is therefore, we who are not opening the door, making time, and seeking Him to spend time with.

   A story as told to me by a family member at one time (and for anonymity, I will call him Johnny) went like this; He was in church and kneeling in prayer, and that is when Johnny noticed an elderly man across the aisle and in a pew closer to the Altar. The man seemed to be in a bit of either physical or spiritual distress as he sat bent over with his right arm holding his head. Johnny felt some concern and empathy. Wanting to do the right thing, he stood up and proceeded up the church aisle toward the man. He lightly tapped him on his shoulder saying; “Are you alright?” When the elderly man turned his head to look up and face Johnny, he almost fell backward. Johnny said he was shaken, and not prepared for the face that was looking up at him. Johnny was startled because of the man’s eyes that looked up at him. He felt he had never seen eyes like those before. As best he could describe them was to say they looked Saintly, and not of this world. The elderly man thanked him for his concern, and Johnny went back to his pew where he sat in bewilderment asking himself; “What just happened here and now in this church?”

   God said; “What you do for the least of my brethren, you do unto Me.” In God’s words, and teachings, and possibly through a life experience we may become mystified, and rightfully so. By taking a step forward in following God’s word and His example through practicing acts of love, mercy, and empathy we are opening the door and bringing God into our lives, bodies, and hearts.

   Another way to experience love for all our brothers and sisters is to realize that we are all created equal, each of us will need that love, empathy, assistance, and mercy from one who is unknown to us, and to preserve faith in humanity that God has created. It is the way God wants us to live.