God’s grammar – part 10 (Adjectives)

(this part is a continuation from part 9)

“Well Sam, since you brought it up, why don’t we talk about adjectives?” God said, breaking the silence, “Can you name a few for me?” Sam however, was pre-occupied. He had just broken through his cocoon; he had new thoughts; new colours; new life. The old was gone, the new had come. It was more than a divine revelation; it was a divine transformation! His body remained seated, but he was nonetheless alive in another world that had captured his attention.

He remained triumphantly atop the mountains; he was still enjoying the wind being poured over him; being poured through him. He had been elevated to a place where the eagles roamed; he had seen the face of the truth; the spirit of love; the light of life! Oh, how it burned with glory. Unlike the fire of disillusionment that had tormented him for so long, this was a consuming fire that released him; liberated him; inflaming his heart with hope.

Sam could hear God’s question bouncing from mountain top to mountain top, echoing its way back to him, but greater things had captivated Sam’s attention. He didn’t even know what adjectives were; he didn’t care. He was experiencing the boundless love of the almighty. He had somehow transcended into the heavens; he was caught in the radiance of everlasting love.

He longed to remain victoriously free in the splendour of the divine, but nonetheless he felt himself drawn back to the mundane. It would have been an unbearable transition to make if it hadn’t have been for the fact that the eternal God was waiting for him there; limited in a body, but nonetheless unlimited in Spirit. It was a reality Sam felt he had now somehow been given the grace to also participate in. He transitioned back to his earthen vessel, but his spirit remained in the eternal.

Sam opened his eyes. His body still ached; but it no longer stung. The world was still in bondage, but the chains that shackled him to it were gone; a yoke had been lifted; he could walk; run; fly!  His body was still limited, but his heart was free. He had seen the place where God lived; the place where God invited him to live. He had eyes, but they had blindly seen a false god for so many years. Now, despite all his ungodly thoughts, actions and moral failings, God had, through an act of pure grace, opened his eyes to see him as he truly was. Sam’s eyes were open. It was neither a dream nor an epiphany, it was a reality; at last he could finally see!

Sam stared over to God. His eyes were also wide open, communicating more than words ever could. His grin, that wild unrestrained grin, spoke volumes between them. God knew. He knew everything Sam had just experienced, for the entire experience had happened in him. It was a divine paradox, the most wonderful of contradictions. The limited, ordinary God who was encaged in flesh and blood before him was also reigning victoriously in the heavenly realms; simultaneously holding the whole universe together and magnificently exalting him to the heights of eternity.

Sam sprung to his feet. He momentarily buried his face in his hands, trying desperately to process such a glorious turn of events. He threw his hands in God’s direction, his fingers spread apart; stretched widely as if preparing to catch the universe. God watched with an intense curiosity. Sam was overjoyed, and although he knew his words would never suffice, he felt compelled to somehow express the fireball of thoughts and revelations that had been birthed within him.

“God, you’re incredible! I can finally see the fullness of who you are” Sam blurted out passionately, “You’re enormous; unending; uncontainable! You’re graceful; merciful; glorious! You’re loving; kind; patient! You waited for me! I see you here in front of me, the humble, gentle, accepting God, and you’ve also revealed yourself to me in spirit; the all powerful, creating, eternal God! You’re the real God! I see you!” Sam proclaimed, his words stampeding out in rapid succession, stumbling over one another.

Sam’s emotions overcame him; he buried his face in his hands once more. He was overwhelmed with hope; lost in a sea of promise and momentarily stunned by the stark reality of the good God before him. He was in love; he was alive.

God gazed at Sam; he loved him so much, and he knew that Sam was finally able to see him; he wept. It was a moment of honesty that touched the heart of God, and he stood to his feet and wrapped his arms tightly around Sam, embracing him as a son, and holding him with a grip that he knew would be everlasting. Sam was the first to laugh. God followed. Oh, the joy!

God opened his arms wide and took a step back. Sam wiped his eyes, his face flustered and red; he laughed once more. God took a few more steps backwards, maintaining his gaze upon Sam and began to give him a round of applause.

God began to repeat some of the words Sam had just spoken to him, “Incredible, enormous, unending, uncontainable, graceful, merciful, glorious, loving, kind, patient, humble, gentle, accepting, powerful, creating, eternal and real!” God clapped his hands once more, “Now that was an awesome way to answer my question, all wonderful examples of adjectives, well done Sam!” God said triumphantly; tears still smudged across his face.

Sam shook his head and let out a final laugh, “God, I don’t even know what an adjective is!” God used the sleeve of his shirt to dry his face. He looked once more towards Sam and said, “Adjectives are describing words Sam; they describe nouns. You were just describing me, the God of heaven and earth, and, I must say, you did it magnificently!

Sam sat back down at the table; God joined him. Sam contemplated what God had just said, and then, cheekily, he replied, “You know what, I did describe you magnificently!” Sam said confidently. God smiled, “Great use of an adverb Sam, and since were on the topic, can you give me a few more examples?”

Adverbs! What in the world are they? (Continue reading)