DISQUS

You asked "what does it mean to relate to God?" which I've been struggling with, in a different way. I recently wrote to myself during church right after musical worship "What does it mean to LOVE God, and how can I love a God I don't fully understand?" and it relates to your question of what a personal relationship with Jesus is. and many many many other "churchy" words. I think "personal relationship with Jesus" is a weird expression... to get personal with Jesus, you're also personal with God, and that's all through the Holy Spirit. That's who is in the coffeeshop with you listening and talking back. If you sit down to "spend time with the Lord" you can ask the Holy Spirit to be with you, because He's already inside waiting for it. And that's the only way to understand a tiny bit of God, and Jesus, and understanding them really helps to figure out how to love God and relate to God.

I'm really frustrated with God, a lot, and I was just writing about it, and I definitely came to the conclusion that I'm frustrated because I don't feel him enough. I wrote that I don't know where he is, and I guess it's because we are accustomed to feeling our father's arms, or our friends or just like you said, audibly hearing people talk back. But I think we forget how lucky we are that we live in a time when God is not a distant father in Heaven or even a person standing next to us, but He's the Holy Spirit that lives inside us all the time! I think the things of the world hide that from us a lot. And we can see the effects of the Holy Spirit in people's lives, which I always remember when I start think he could be a scam.
Thanks for posting this. It really spoke to me and made me think.

I'm really frustrated with God, a lot, and I was just writing about it, and I definitely came to the conclusion that I'm frustrated because I don't feel him enough. I wrote that I don't know where he is, and I guess it's because we are accustomed to feeling our father's arms, or our friends or just like you said, audibly hearing people talk back. But I think we forget how lucky we are that we live in a time when God is not a distant father in Heaven or even a person standing next to us, but He's the Holy Spirit that lives inside us all the time! I think the things of the world hide that from us a lot. And we can see the effects of the Holy Spirit in people's lives, which I always remember when I start think he could be a scam.
Thanks for posting this. It really spoke to me and made me think.

Mark!
(That was weird)
Sorry this isn't relevant but I just got excited. I was listening to This American Life and they read a William Carlos Williams poem... This is just to say! Which I remember you reading to our class and thought of you and what a great professor you were.
Thanks,
Melissa

Melissa's last blog post..Flim star shines on debut album

this takes me back to high school classroom days. thanks for sharing! it's quite pretty.

I hope no one in your house says E-V-O-O.
Rachel Ray is one of my top five pet peeves.

I can't wait to listen to this "grammar girl." I might have to check out some of those books. I have read the copy of Letters to Young Poet that you gave me multiple times. It means a lot to me.