Where is God?

Here I go again, talking about finding a reference to something in nature that reminds me of Him. Yesterday, I was putting a few things aside to make room for the do-dads that I use to decorate in preparation for Christmas. It was a sand dollar, one of the many shells that I have found on the shorelines of the ocean. There is a story that goes along with the star, that is located in the middle of the shell. The story goes that Christ left it as a symbol to help evangelists teach the faith. Beside the star, it has five marks which stand for the cross and lance, made by the spear.

Finding Christmas is not a simple journey, it is a lifetime of "little things" that are placed before us repeatedly to help us find the "secret" path to "life." Picking the sand dollar up in my hand, reminded me of the vastness of the ocean and of vastness of God's creations, in all generations. Who can comprehend this one fact? No, it's not the incarnation alone, nor the star, supernatural as it was, light and all, nor all the other created material things that brought us to that place, Bethlehem, then and now.

We did not suddenly become adults, we had to learn to walk first. To discover first, to see things through the eyes of children, first. The wonder of Christmas, first. The joy of discovering is an important aspect in finding the "real" meaning of Christmas, eventually. Or, is it really a rebirth in us? A re-kindling of the only hope that we will ever know, and that which is necessary to thwart off the state of our fallen humanness, in our failure to love others. Are we redeemed, this time of the year, from our hardened and cold heart, as Scrooge, finding joy and love as we allow the "Spirit" to take hold of us willingly, to celebrate in love, all of creation which comes alive to us, through a loving God, whom no one can completely comprehend, and who loves us more than we deserve? How are recharged....?

We are born babies, completely dependant on another for sustenance, and life itself. What does that teach us about our relationship with God and humankind? What was His relationship with His mother, as He depended on her for His life? I think that babies love their mother's so much. I'm sure Mary loved Jesus that way, too. A love given to her from Him who is love. And her love to Him, which He himself created. The bible says, "God loved us first, we are created by Him. We have a great capacity to love, if we would only let go of self, and once again, trust. Isn't that where it begins, complete trust? There can be no love without, trust. Gift giving is the fruit of love that flows from our hearts. We do not need presents when we are loved, as everything we experience is a present to us. Love is all we will ever "really" need.

How can you experience Christmas without love for someone else? Ponder deeply, who is holding you? Do you want to be loved? What stops you from receiving the love of Christ, given through another? Mary held Jesus close, nourished Him, and kissed Him while heaven and nature sang, each in their own way. And, the wise men and shepherds worshiped Him. You cannot experience love, if you reject it, and are unwilling to receive it. God does not force Himself on other's. He has given you the gift of free will. God forgave. We need to forgive, also.

I am not a scholar, for if I were, I would have missed out on the lessons which do not come from anything written, but are experienced from within. Intellectuals, sometimes, in seeking to develop with their mind, look for the hidden things in a cave, and fail to find Him in the lower abode of the heart. With knowledge comes the understanding of Christmas, with love comes the joy. There is no Hope in knowing where God is without both. But of all these, only "Love remains," as knowledge will pass away.

This is the season of advent. A time to tell someone else, that they are loved more than they'll ever know, and that there is a secret meaning hidden in the cave of your heart.