“Ok, let’s talk about grammar”, God said enthusiastically. Sam cracked his knuckles; he gave God his full attention. He was, oddly enough, quite relaxed considering, as he had already conceded, he would make a spectacular fool of himself any minute. Sam didn’t know anything about grammar; nothing! Granted, he could speak his own language, but he didn’t understand it. However, Sam didn’t feel guilty about this; after all, who really understands grammar anyway?
Sam decided to come clean, “I must tell you,” Sam went on to confess, “I really don’t know anything about grammar.” God nodded his head; he gave Sam the impression that this wasn’t new to him; it didn’t seem to bother God in the slightest. “Well, if you already knew it all, then you wouldn’t need my help, would you?” God questioned rhetorically. He had a point.
“Why don’t we start with the basics”, God suggested. He leaned back on his chair, looking relaxed and comfortable, and threw his first question over to Sam: “Do you know what a verb is?” Sam thought about it; he was almost positive he knew what a verb was; almost. He pondered on his possible answer, but, not willing to flunk the test on the easiest question, opted instead to throw the question back to God. “I just told you, I know nothing!” Sam said honestly; perhaps too honest? Was he being to honest? No, it was perfect, it felt perfect. Sam grinned for a few moments, trying to keep the volcano from erupting, but it was to no avail. He exploded with a wild, wayward laugh. God smiled.
It felt natural; wonderfully natural. Honesty never felt natural to Sam; he lived, in one way or another, a lie everyday. His life had become a numbed down facade; a long drawn out waltz that continued long after the music stopped playing, always side stepping people’s eyes and intimate conversations. He hated it, but it seemed to have mastered him; the villain within him had turned his soul into a military complex designed to hide his pains and disappointments as well as his fears and weaknesses.
He had once thought that he was safe within the trusted walls that had been erected, only to realise it was those very walls that imprisoned him; no one could enter, no one could see him; that was until God showed up. God had overcome the villain, the noise and the anger; God had disarmed all Sam’s defences, and although the walls were still standing defiantly against the rest of the world, God stood within them; God could see Sam.
God waited patiently for Sam to regain his composure; he seemed be in no hurry for Sam to stop his laughter, in fact he was undoubtedly enjoying the moment. Sam finally came round; drying his eyes and shaking his head once more, he looked back towards God, whose face was alight with joy. This wasn’t the God Sam had pictured in his mind all these years, the God of rules, spiritual principles and unattainable obedience. This was the God of his childhood, the simple God, the God who loved. It was this gracious God who had miraculously caused a change in Sam that had nothing to do with Sam’s own efforts, obedience or rule keeping. God had somehow changed something within Sam’s own spirit, and Sam noticed how, even in such a short period of time, he was relating to God in a profoundly different way than he ever did with the distant God he tried, and failed, to serve in his youth.
Sam shook his head as he let out one last chuckle. “What did you do in me?” Sam asked. “You changed something in me, I don’t know what, or how, but I feel the difference; I feel different.”
“What did you do in me?” God repeated with enthusiasm. “That was an excellent example of a verb!” Sam’s eyes popped out of his head; he wasn’t even trying to answer the question; he had already forgotten the question! God however, seemed delighted. “A verb” God went on to further explain, “is a doing word; any word that is an action; words, for example, such as stand, sleep, ask, talk, drive, discuss and do – anything that is an action is a verb.”
God went on to say, “Now, to answer your question,” God continued “So far, I’ve done lots of things in you: I’ve filled you with peace, I’ve explained how I see things, I’ve showed you a glimpse of heaven, I’ve saved you from the noise in your own head, and, amongst other things, I’m teaching you grammar right now.” God glanced over at Sam, lowering his voice and raising his eyebrows, “Think of me as the verb within you Sam; I’m an active doer in your life” God laughed once more, his eyes held Sam; embracing him passionately and, defying the walls around them that tried so hard to hide Sam’s faults and failings, spoke with all honesty into his spirit: “It’s ok to be weak Sam; there’s no need to hide or fear, just walk with me; trust me, my grace is sufficient.” Sam was captivated. He was looking into the eyes of God, and the only thing he saw was pure acceptance. Pure, unrestrained acceptance. (Continue reading)
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Sound’s like you’ve been reading some of the next chapters Evelyn
God is not only a verb but an adjective- incredible, amazing, awesome, undescribable, lovable, supreme, sovereign, among others. He is also a noun- KIng, Restorer, Controller, Counselor, Peace Maker, Lover, we can go on and on. What an amazing God we have!