God had witnessed the battle that raged inside, the battle that fought against God, the battle to be above God, the battle to live apart from God. He had seen Sam’s bitterness, his betrayal and his treason. He had seen everything; he knew everything, yet he didn’t expose anything. On the contrary, he covered over Sam’s shame. God had removed the blood soaked uniform Sam had worn for so long and replaced Sam’s battle weary rags with clothing from his own heavenly wardrobe.

God never questioned why Sam had, for so many years, chosen to side with the enemy inside. The one who deceived him into building a military complex within his soul, who declared war is peace and God was nothing more than a fool’s crutch. God never accused him of treason, and even if Sam believed that he’d somehow signed a pact with the war criminal inside, God never did. God knew Sam; he had always known Sam. He knew he was a child of the Most High God. In spite of how far into the darkness Sam had travelled, the God who turns darkness into light had found him, and, in an act grace that caused the forces of evil to scream in defeat, he had wrapped his arms of justice around him.

God had meet Sam in his weakest moment, amidst the roars of accusations and condemnation; within the walls of enslavement and debauchery; under the weight of sin and deception and surrounded by a dirty history of conquests and cruelty. God didn’t demonstrate his justice by summoning Sam to appear before his high and lofty throne and demand an account of his misdeeds, but rather he came down to meet Sam amidst his guilt and shame, and what did God do? He loved him, and he loved him completely. He kept no record of his wrongs. He didn’t ignore Sam’s failings, but rather God took the shame upon himself; he absorbed the darkness that had consumed Sam and destroyed it in the process. Sam had been set free by the grace of God.

Sam soared once more thought the galaxies. He beamed with light; he was light! He marvelled at the stark reality of God’s ways; his justice was nothing like Sam had imagined. It was not a rod in an angry god’s hand, destined to destroy the wicked; rather it was a gift that justified the wicked! God’s justice was a revelation of his very own nature, a divine statement of just how far he was willing to go in order to embrace mankind. God’s justice was not a reflection of his wrath, but rather a perfect picture of his love!

It was this revelation of God’s justice that allowed Sam to find his rest in God’s presence, for Sam concluded that if God had not condemned him while he was guilty in the darkness, he would certainly not do so now that he had been justified into God’s light!

Sam was high on the spirit of God’s wisdom, and in that moment of clarity he knew that the villain who hid behind a thousand masks, the adversary within, who had played on Sam’s own fears and weakness for so long, the liar and the thief, who had robbed Sam of so much for so long, had been instantly, and totally, defeated. For what power did the enemy within have left to attack Sam with now?

God had completely justified Sam by the working of his grace, so what was left to be condemned? If God’s own justice held him this securely, then who, in all of creation, was strong enough to strip him from such a secure embrace? Nobody, and Sam knew it. His feet were secure upon an unshakable rock. He life now secure within an indestructable love. How glorious.

“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)



God wasn’t beautiful; that puzzled Sam. His appearance was rather routine, simple; commonplace even. Sam pondered why God, who could have presented himself in any form he desired, chose to present himself in a way that was so, well, ordinary? God had chosen to meet with Sam emptied of any majesty; a man with neither athletic physique nor good looks; a man void of outer appeal. Yet, despite any outer grandeur or brute strength to attract Sam to him, God had captivated his heart nonetheless.

Over the years, Sam had developed his own picture of God. He envisioned a towering image of strength that cast a constant shadow of judgement over him. He saw the back of an angry, bitter ruler who loathed his lifestyle, rejected his cries and scorned his infidelities. He saw the outline of a judge who screamed; who burned; who drew his sword against him. He saw a figure like steel that crushed his hopes and condemned his failings. He saw a mighty, demanding authority who shook his head in disappointment. He saw a silhouette that caused him to run; a judgemental god; an unfair god; a god he could live without.

Sam sat in the silence, looking into the eyes of the vulnerable, ordinary God before him. He stared in awe as he realised how this God was nothing like the god of his imagination. This God did not seek to drag him before his judgement seat; rather he met him as an equal; a servant even. He didn’t expect Sam to beg forgiveness, rather, he took his side; he defended him; justified him. He silenced the roars of violence and condemnation; he overcame the strong man who crippled him with fear and despair. He set him free; he met him in his mess, and yet declared him clean. He didn’t talk about his faults, failings or unbelief; rather he just talked; how incredible that God just wanted to talk; no stings attached.

The body God chose to reveal himself in was limited; weak even, but there was more to God than the jar of clay sitting before him. There was an eternity within; a power that could not be contained; a love that was limitless; a Spirit that was radically free. Sam looked at the visible God before him; the humble, unspectacular God in human skin, and somehow, through being able to see him in such a fragile shell, it enabled him to see the glorious, invisible God who reigned within.

Sam could see God; his eyes were open! Life erupted. He stood atop a mountain; his feet secure; his heart ablaze; his hands raised. The heavens roared; the sun engulfed him; the wind encircled him, the world was alive; Sam was alive; new life had overtaken him. He could see God. After all the visions of a harsh, vengeful, disappointed god that one preacher after another had painted for him, Sam could finally see the reality of the loving, embracing, graceful God. It was a moment of clarity that disarmed years of distortion. A breathe of grace that extinguished the a fire of lies. (Continue reading)

How could God feel more comfortable in a human body than he did? He was, after all, the universe creating being; limitless in power; divine in glory. He was, in his natural state, bigger than all things, yet he had limited himself in order to meet with Sam. God had limited himself – for Sam? That thought rattled Sam; he didn’t know to respond to such a profound act of grace.

The limitless God had limited himself, taking on the very nature of a teacher; a servant even? But the almighty wouldn’t really do such a thing, would he? Yet, there he was, sitting before Sam; he was with Sam.

The prison warden within Sam was outraged, for he could see the walls of enslavement were being shaken; the defence system that reigned for so long was now being challenged, for the first time, by a greater force. The enemy within screamed, he threw his full force of fear upon Sam, but his tools of deception and fear mongering lacked their previous power; something had changed. The war veteran within had found himself unexpectedly up against a greater power. The still, silent power of love was at work within Sam, and it was quickly establishing control.

This was not a battle Sam was fighting; rather it was one that God seemed to be fighting on his behalf. The strong man within,  that had ruled with an iron fist for so long, had been tied up by a freedom fighter of greater strength.  God was sitting before him in the likeness of a man, but Sam could also feel the almighty at work within.

Sam reclined in his chair; he breathed easy. God raised his eyebrows, as if he was looking for permission to continue. Sam smirked and tilted his head slightly; he was intrigued as to what would come next. God began to speak, “So we’ve talked about verbs, now how about nouns?” God’s request was accompanied by an embracing grin. He continued, “Sam, give me an example of a noun, any noun will do.”

Sam closed his eyes, he cried out, “A noun, I need a noun!” as he raced hysterically through a long white corridor, overturning bins full of garbage and trying to open locked doors everywhere,  “Where are the nouns?” He screamed, the question continued to echo down the endless corridor. Sam recklessly searched for a noun, any noun. Sam could still hear his own faint echo, “Where are the nouns?” Sam broke down doors and overturned the tables in desperation, he uncovered evidence of a past he’d rather forget, and current pains he’d rather avoid. He had stored so much rubbish in his mind, so much waste, so much clutter, but what about a noun? He just needed one noun, but it was hopeless, he couldn’t find one. He collapsed; he squirmed; oh the agony!

Sam opened his eyes, and before he could hide in shame, he found himself staring directly into the face of God, and instantly the agony of being caught out as a fool disappeared. How did God manage to do that? How was God able to assure him that even in the midst of his lack, his weakness and his foolishness, he was accepted? God didn’t use words to convince Sam of this; he just seemed to instil it in Sam whenever he looked at him. Sam was perplexed; how could there be so much transformational power be at work within him whenever he simply looked at God?

Sam thoughts returned to God’s original question. Sam sighed, shook his head and playfully threw his arms up in surrender, ”God, you’re well aware that I don’t know the answer!” God smirked; Sam was expected a wagging finger, but instead God appeared pleased, impressed even. “The answer”, God repeated, “How ingenious of you Sam”, Sam’s jaw dropped as God enthusiastically continued, “that was a fantastic example of a noun!”

“A noun is any word that you can use ‘the’ with.” God went on to explain, but Sam was lost; he still couldn’t see it. Just as he was about to close his eyes and retreat inside once more, God leaned forward and whispered to Sam, “You don’t have to dive into your minds storage house to find a noun, you only needed to look around you, nouns are everywhere! God looked around the room and started calling out what he saw, “The table, the chair, the wall, the television, the window, the pencil, the door”, turning back to Sam, he continued, “and in your case, ‘the answer’ was also a great example of a noun!”

Sam mumbled God’s words to himself, “A noun is any word I can put ‘the’ before.” He pondered the thought for a moment,  then threw out the first noun that came to his mind, “The grammar lesson”. God laughed, he was evidently enjoying his time with Sam. “Exactly” God said; he continued, “and you even threw in an adjective for good measure!”

Sam groaned inwardly and sighed once more; an adjective? Oh boy, this was going to be a long day. (Continue reading)

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)

He smoked, occasionally shared his bed with strangers, was a reckless drinker and for years now had secretly felt repulsed by the church; attending only when required by family or a guilty conscious. He had a bible, but rarely opened it; he had failed to live up to any of the religious standards that were drilled into him by his parents and pastors alike.

It was because of these reasons that Sam had tried his hardest to distance himself from God. He had decided years ago to unshackle the yoke of faith from his neck; Sam had reasoned that he didn’t need the extra baggage; his disappointments were heavy enough to carry on their own.

He hadn’t always felt this way. Sam was once an active believer. He didn’t just have an academic, theoretical kind of belief; he had a real belief; he could still remember it. As a child, he had a belief in a wonderful God who loved him and cared for him, but over the years God, for reasons unbeknownst to Sam, began to change.

The God of love turned into a God of rules. God had, unfortunately, become terribly complicated. The open green pastures of faith that Sam freely played in as a child had, as a teenager, become a legalistic minefield he had to fearfully navigate through. Sam could still remember listening, every Sunday, to his pastor proudly preaching the expectations of God; a tsunami wave of laws and spiritual principles that washed away any belief in the God of his childhood; the simple God; the God who loved.

It was this complicated, law driven God that Sam had expected to meet as he stood terrified, eyes clenched and jaw locked, only moments ago. Sam could recall listening to countless bitter messages about the judgement of God and he knew, so he thought, what waited for a person of his lifestyle: fire, hell and brimstone. The fire however, never came.

It was the most incredible of surprises; instead of God’s wrath, Sam was confronted with God’s smile. Instead of being hurled into hell, he was invited to look into heaven. Instead of condemnation being heaped upon him because of his sins, he experienced an abundance of love being poured into his heart. It was a divine paradox; the most wonderful of contradictions.

To Sam’s amazement, instead of coming face to face with the God of law, he found himself being reacquainted with a long lost childhood friend; the simple God; the God who loved. (Continue reading)

God smiled, that wild, unrestrained smile, and his eyes danced, captivating Sam, holding his attention; holding him. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?” God asked, “You’re place is clean”, God declared, “It’s great; I might even move in permanently if you ask me to!” God laughed, his eyes pulled Sam onto its dance floor, but Sam wasn’t dancing; he didn’t believe God, “Come on, you’re God, you’re not allowed to lie!” Sam blurted out, only half joking. God took no offence, rather, he seemed to enjoy the banter.

“You’re absolutely right Sam, that’s why when I call something ‘clean’, trust me, it’s clean! It doesn’t matter how often it’s been called ‘unclean’ in the past, the day I call something clean, guess what happens?” God’s eyes were drawing Sam to respond, “It becomes clean?” Sam sheepishly replied, “Exactly!” God triumphantly confirmed, evidently pleased with himself.

Sam glanced around his apartment once more. It was, in his opinion, still terribly unclean. Nothing seemed to be different; there was no sudden transformation, no new furniture, nothing looked any different; that annoyed Sam. He couldn’t let it go, he had to make a point, “I hate to break it to you God, but my apartment is still unclean; look around, nothing has changed.” God stared at Sam; his eyes embracing him, the smirk on his face intrigued Sam. God shook his head jovially as he laughed once more; he responded, “My boy, do you have eyes but fail to see?” The question puzzled Sam; what ever did that mean?

God took a moment to glance around, scratching the back of his head as he gathered his thoughts. He turned once more towards Sam and, with his swaggering grin returning, said, “Actually, contrary to what you believe, something profound has changed; something wonderfully profound!” God’s eyes started dancing around the room in approval until they united once again with Sam’s, he noticed Sam’s look of scepticism and questioned him once more, “You still can’t see it, can you?” God asked. Sam, in totally confusion, threw his hands up in surrender, “See what? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Despite Sam’s best effort to create tension, God’s desire for peace reigned. He drew near to Sam, placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder and, looking deeply into Sam’s eyes, opening up heaven for Sam to glimpse. It was only snapshot; a split second, but it was enough to change everything. A revelation awakened within Sam; a simple, glorious revelation had come to life as he listened to God utter the words, “Sam, stop focusing on how you see things, and allow yourself to recognise how I see things; If you allow yourself to see things from my perspective, then trust me, you’ll truly start to see!”

Sam’s jaw hung low, the choir sung triumphantly, the walls clapped with joy. The brass band erupted with songs of victory. The song of heaven played passionately as Sam glanced once more around his apartment; his dirty, old apartment. He smiled, amazed at the reality, “Wow, it really is clean!” he said. Sam’s spirit was awakened; his mind laughed at the irony of faith. (continue reading)

They both stood still, perfectly still, and in that moment the silence between them sung the most fascinating of songs. A soundless melody of joy and love, each note perfectly placed. The divine orchestra played triumphantly, and the silence between them was electrifying.

That moment; that intimate outrageous moment, as glorious as it felt, was fleeting. Sam’s self-focused ego commanded that his attention be placed back upon himself, and, taking the opportunity to condemn him, violently reminded Sam of his own weaknesses and inadequacies in the presence of the Almighty.

The silent song of heaven that so beautifully danced around him was abruptly, and dramatically, exchanged with Sam’s own song. The drum beat of his heart doubled the tempo; forcefully, and without invitation, new vocalist stole the microphone, recklessly preaching their selfish, distorted lyrics. His lungs tightened, the tension wrestled with him, overpowering him, and his face was set afire.

Through the intoxicating chaos that fear had ignited, a still soft voice cut through its hostility. Sam could hear God, he knew that voice by now, but he also could see God standing right before him and he was clearly not speaking. God was looking directly at Sam, his mouth closed and eyebrows raised. God’s voice was, incredibly, speaking from within Sam; a gentle whisper that roared with authority above every other sound.

God’s voice was not in the chaos, it was, astonishingly, in the silence. While the chaos of Sam’s own fear and insecurity had employed its overbearing intensity to momentarily imprison him, God had rescued him through the quietness and rest of his voice; his living word. God didn’t need to scream to be heard; he simply spoke, and every other voice ceased.

“Be still” God spoke calmly, as he led Sam into freedom, “and don’t forget to breathe!”

Sam breathed; it was a deep, satisfying breath. The world came back into focus; the divine melody once more embraced him and suddenly everything was calm; his soul, for the first time, was wonderfully at peace.

“Sam” God said, “We’re never going to be able to start our grammar lessons if you keep having panic attacks in my presence every other minute!” God laughed, seemingly impressed with his own observation, as he warmly patted Sam on his shoulder, jovially asking, “My boy, what are you so afraid of?”

It was a good question, what was Sam so afraid of? (continue reading)

He looked young; surprisingly young; old enough to be a father perhaps, but certainly not a grandfather. He was shaven, but not well shaven; thin and, considering this was God,  peculiarly unspectacular. He seemed, at first glance, somewhat awkward, his facial features somehow disportionate to his frame, but in spite of all this he was clearly relaxed; he appeared both confident and jubilant, and he held himself well. His appearance didn’t command Sam’s attention, but God’s smile, wild and unrestrained, certainly stole his heart.

Sam was speechless; utterly speechless. Outside, the winter season not only continued to persecute the pedestrians, it was also succeeding in its evil intention to steal away the sunshine. Inside, the apartment was suffering at the hands of this cold oppressor, and remained dim.

Sam had grown accustomed to sitting in the dark. His life had grown burdensome; he was tired; he was defeated; he was just holding on. Sitting in the dark was the least of his concerns. In fact, if God hadn’t mentioned it, Sam would never have noticed. “It sure is awfully dark in here, is it Ok with you if I turn the lights on?” God asked; Sam, still voiceless, nodded in consent.

God leaned over to the wall and flicked the light switch on; the room was suddenly, and brilliantly, transformed. The shadows that had furnished the room quickly disappeared and God, casting his eyes heavenward upon the light, was evidently pleased. “Now that’s better!” He looked back to Sam, and grinning wildly, enthusiastically asked:

“So, shall we begin with your first grammar lesson?”

Sam readjusted his eyes and focused once more upon God. How can this be real? Is God really standing before him in flesh and blood? Is that even possible? Sam’s mind searched its database for an answer: Error: please restart your computer. He had no answers, and his logical mind could not compute this strange new data. Without another option, Sam did the only thing he could; he believed. Taking a deep breath, Sam answered the call of God: “OK, let’s begin; you lead the way” (continue reading)

“Why me?”

He was afraid; terrified; and there was no escape. After an eternity had passed, he finally completed his rotation. He stood in darkness; eyes clenched; jaw locked. Defiant yet conquered, he awaited his fate. God could feel Sam’s anguish; his blind, unnecessary anguish. If Sam could only see God, he wouldn’t remain so tormented; he wouldn’t hide; he wouldn’t fear.

From across the room, Sam heard the voice of God call out to him once more, “Don’t you want to open your eyes?” Sam pondered the question; did he want his eyes to be opened? His mind shouted a resounding ‘yes’, but fear had already taken him hostage, so he answered, “I can’t” Sam continued, “I’m terrified”, his words crumbling as they collided with the air, “I’m ashamed”. God looked at him and loved him; he replied with all honesty, “You don’t have to feel ashamed”

Sam could hear God drawing closer to him. The violent man in him was outraged; the child in him rejoiced. God continued to make his way closer to Sam until he stood directly before him; he leaned over and softly whispered, “It OK Sam, you can open your eyes, I’m not here to judge you; I’m here to help you.” And with those words God gently placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder.

In that moment, without contest or resistance, the war that was raging within Sam ceased. Suddenly there was silence; absolute silence; beautiful, glorious silence. His heart became still; his ears quietened; his eyes reborn. How could so much change within him with just one touch?

Sam felt like a new person. He felt unashamed; he felt alive. He opened his eyes and, staring into the face of God for the first time, smiled as he blurted out “You don’t look anything like I imagined.” God smirked; he heard that all the time. (Continue reading)