May 18, 2008

"If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted; musicians denoted; cowboys deranged; models deposed; tree surgeons debarked; and dry cleaners depressed?" -- Virginia Ostman

There's an old story that says at the end of his life, the apostle John was asked to come and preach to the community on what was important and how they were to live. He had trouble walking, but they got him there. He came before them and said, "God is Love," and he left.

We try to know God and give God names to help us understand. God loves us and wants us to know it and love God in return. God also wants us to love each other; and with all of us loving God and being loved by God, we form a communion.

The Trinity is one way of trying to express that relationship. The Spirit is the love between the Father and Jesus that is also wide and deep enough to include all of us. Even though we call them Father, Son and Holy Spirit, there is still only one God. But the Trinity provides different ways of relating to God. One of the commentaries I use describes Trinity like this: -"a God who has chosen to relate and be related to human beings, to go along in our company as loving Parent, protective older Brother and sisterly Spirit." (Preaching Resources, CELEBRATION, May 18, 2008)

Trying to understand the Trinity is almost impossible -- even Augustine couldn't figure it out. The important thing for us is to recall John's words and be aware of and believe in God's presence and love for us each day. We are to let God love us and be ready to begin again when we mess up. We are to spend our energy bringing love and good to our world right where we are and in whatever ways are presented to us.