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LightHearted Musings - Bidden or Not Bidden, God is Present
Posted by Dr. Molly Roberts on January 11th, 2009
Vocatvs atque non vocatvs Deus aderit
Bidden or not bidden, God is present.
–Carl Jung
God is present. God is present. I said this phrase over and over to myself to see if it fit for me, to see if God really does feel present to me at all times, whether or not I bid his/her/its presence. I find it very easy to feel God in my life when things are going well. During good times, it feels like there is a friendly hand at my back, gently guiding me in the directions that are the most favorable for me, creating synchronicities that flow opportunities my way. God is my loving pal during those times, quietly stacking the deck in my favor. Basically, it’s easy to feel God’s presence when good things are happening to me.
But what about the bad times? Can I feel God when my finances are tight, when my computer has crashed, when I’ve got the flu, or when I am seriously struggling? If God has a hand in my misfortunes, then what does that say about both God and my relationship to God? Am I being punished? Is there a lesson I’m supposed to be learning? Since bad things happen to good people all the time, it is natural to question whether there really is a God who is a loving presence through the good times and the bad. It is also natural to question whether God really has a hand in our fate. Am I on my own out here in the world?
A couple of days ago, these very thoughts were running around in my head as Bruce and I were talking about how this economic downturn was affecting us. If the two of us just simply took on regular jobs as doctors, we would have no insecurities with our finances. Instead, we have put a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money into our dream of creating a holistic healing center that steps outside the box of medicine, to go for more deep and meaningful healing for people. It is a gamble of the heart that may or may not end up succeeding as a business though we are well aware of how well it has succeeded on a personal level for our patients.
Bruce and I agreed that we were comfortable with however this turned out. We both feel a moral, intellectual, and spiritual pull to practice medicine in a way that fosters the healing of mind, body and spirit. Not following our hearts with this would be more detrimental to our own health and well-being than taking the financially easier way out. Besides, no matter what happened, we would be falling or flying together.
We both agreed that we would rather follow our dreams and have them fail than to let our dreams be unexpressed. I did say, though, that I could sure use a big glaring synchronicity right around now to let me know that we are on the right track, something that I wouldn’t be able to mistake, as a sign that there is a bigger Presence out there who has our best interests at heart. And while I was at it, I asked that the synchronicity come as soon as possible.
The next day, I got my synchronicity with the added reminder that God has a sense of humor. Our youngest daughter, Rebecca, started a conversation out of the blue about God and the presence of spirit in our lives. Before I had a chance to comment that her Daddy and I were just talking about that the night before, Rebecca stated that she could sure use a big glaring synchronicity right about now to let her know that she was on the right track, something that she wouldn’t be able to mistake, as a sign that there was a bigger Presence out there who had her best interests at heart!
OK, so I must admit that I was hoping for a more financially driven synchronicity, but I did recognize this one for what it was and I appreciated the efficiency with which Spirit took care of both of us in one fell swoop! It gave us all a good laugh, something money would not have done. It reminded me to be in awe of the workings of the world, and I’ll take it as the sign of God’s presence that it seemed to be. Yes, I do believe that God is present with us in good times and bad, and if you are struggling with a need to feel that, go ahead and ask for a big glaring synchronicity of your own. Bid God’s presence in your life, but do be prepared to have a sense of humor about it!
Dr. Molly
I’ve fought with the punishment/not being good enough as a reason for the bad things in my life. Now I truly believe that God is always present in good times and bad. I don’t think he causes the bad or punishes us, but instead is there to help us through it. Human beings caused the economic crisis, not God. We may not have personally have done anything to create suffering as a result of the economy, but life is and the ripple effect is strong. The crisis is a consequence of behaviors & decisions, not a punishment. And God’s and our own sense of humor will go a long way in helping us through the hard times. I do believe we have a loving God who watches over us. I believe He even cries for/with us in our difficult times. But He never leaves us, even if we turn our back on Him. I believe He is there waiting to help us when we’re ready to accept it. For me, one of His greatest gifts is peace of mind regardless of what is happening. If I ask and trust, I find it.
Comment by Lisa RP — January 15, 2009 @ 5:50 am