It Is No Secret --- THE SECRET

A secret is something that you generally keep to yourself --- or maybe tell one or two friends or family. Rhonda Byrne's Secret, however, as told through her book, movie and website, is really no secret at all, but yet another self-help tool. The alleged quote from circus magnate, P. T. Barnum, “There's a sucker born every minute,” quickly comes to mind.

No, I didn't buy the book; I got it at the library. Nor did I pay for membership on the web site. Information from the book wasn't incentive enough to make me desire more. I read it simply for the same reason that many others would --- was it yet another twist on that age-old search for the meaning of life?

While the cover design was inviting, and the format was in small bites, making it an easy read, the content was a disappointing remake of Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking, first published in 1952. In fact, you could go to any two pages in the book and get the exact content of the entire book.

Just for the record, a positive attitude is not a bad thing. It keeps you healthy, focused and determined. It also has a positive influence on those around you. But to say that all the powers of the universe are magnetically ordered to keep you healthy, wealthy and wise is pretty much out there. It means that all bad things happen to losers, and I just don't buy it.

So why did I even pick it up? Don't I already have a palatable belief structure that gives me enough answers to get me through life? Or am I still unsatisfied and continuing to search? I think that what we believe should always be open to testing, comparing and challenging. If what we hold true remains true, our faith will grow stronger. It we remain open to adjustments to what we hold to be true, we are better for it.

This is all the work of the Spirit of God. We are, and have always been, his children. He is always at work in us, though we may not always see it. But for a great many it is a secret that they have yet to discover. It lies buried under years of tradition, as well as cumbersome layers of religious dogma. The really good news is that the love of God will withstand the tests of time, will survive when all else fails and will provide much-needed answers to age old questions.

Feel free to share this secret with anyone.

Atheism --- Can You Believe It?

atheism -noun 1. the doctrine or belief that there is no God. (dictionary.com)

Did you catch that? Taking a position that there is no God is in itself a doctrine and requires belief. How cool is that! It allows for the fact that you can't be sure, so you must believe such --- just like the rest of us.

Not many people go through life without questioning their existence, as well as their mortality. A recent AARP poll noted that the older folks get, the more they begin to believe in God and the afterlife. Those who make it to their twilight years and face death's door often see it as fish-or-cut-bait time; invariably, they will go with some type of religion in order to hedge their bets.

Have we ever seen God? Not really. Some have claimed it, but their testimonies are unverifiable. Few of us have seen the burning bush or heard the voice of thunder often attributed to God. So how do we hear about him? Most heard from their parents when they were children, then were introduced to the Bible and preachers at some point in time. But all of this boils down to people who wrote the Bible and other people who interpreted it.

Scientists start with theories, then proceed to assemble facts and conduct experiments in order to test the theories in a controlled environment. Since God can't be poked and prodded, and since evidences of intelligent design fall short of locating the Designer, they must keep God at arm's length. Some Christian scientists make grand assumptions to prove God's existence, but the truth is that they must build on a premise of faith.

G. K. Chesterton said that "if there were no God, then there would be no Atheists." I believe that all human beings have deep within them the light of their creator. Cannot God operate only through the forces of nature and within our hearts? Must he conform to our requisites in order to prove his existence? God = Hope. How futile our lives would be if this is all there is --- birth, work, play, sickness, death!

Sadly, many choose to not believe in God because of the unacceptable image that is put before them. The God of the Muslim, who tells them to terrorize and destroy. The God of the Jew, who pre-selected one people, then punished them repeatedly for their disobedience. Or the God of the Christian Right, who encourages them to advance the Kingdom by force, take over governments, impose the Gospel, and convince the world that most of them will burn eternally in a fiery hell.

We are God's light. We are the true hope. God is love. We must love. Therein is proof enough. Truth and love will prevail with or without our help. Dante said, "The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank."

Thank you, Lord.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Romans 8:16

A co-worker has recently celebrated the birth of her second child. This news prompted lunch conversation about raising children, how one child is going through the "terrible two's" and another constantly makes embarrasing comments in public. A devout relative of mine has been known to remark, upon hearing of a new birth, "There's another little sinner, come into the world," with no ill intended.

I have both participated in and observed the raising of children, and I am now experiencing the joys of grandparenthood. I have learned a lot, reflecting on my shortcomings as a parent, and trying different approaches as a grandparent. As often as we regard children as special gifts, how often do we proceed to treat them as merely attachments?

In our busy lives, replete with complicated adult relationships, career challenges and abundant choices of multimedia entertainment, we tend to forget the God-given mandate of nurturing our children. Whether we realize it or not, God is always at work raising us. He runs an entire universe, and yet is always keeping an eye on us.

Children "act up" because they are needing attention. Sometimes direct attention with interaction; other times just being in the room, but letting the child know that you care about being with them. They are the primary assignment for any parent, an assignment that should be taken seriously, yet addressed with joy.

Many parents wonder why, when they continually spank them, their son or daughter goes right back to the bad behavior. Because, as painful as it is, receiving the spanking is at least a form of much-needed attention. Even abused children will fight being taken out of the home, because there is a level of security, albeit strained, that only requires their trust. How sad to not be able to see the precious life put into your hands!

When we fail as parents, we're the ones behaving badly. And God will not take us to the woodshed, but will instead use other methods (time out is his favorite) to make us into loving, obedient children. We would do well to observe and do likewise.