An Eyewitness to Awe, Yet Limited By Language.

Unlike Peter (see below) I was not an eyewitness to The Christ himself, but like Peter, I have lived long enough to have experienced the ever present and often miraculous intervention of the Spirit of Christ in my life.

Being an "elder" is a great privilege as many whom I have journeyed with have now passed prematurely, relative to my 77 years.

I have certainly lived long enough to be convinced of the transcendent One we call, God. Somehow those three letters no longer do justice to this magnificent being, so well represented in the grandeur of nature, with its billions of ever expanding galaxies; what we call "Creation."

Unfortunately, "God" for many, is simply a slang term, even more diminished by the digital expression, OMG!

This "Ein Sof", a Kabbalistic term for endless, is too often diminished even by those called to proclaim the Gospel; as if one could capsule this Deity!

Even John the Beloved's epistles fall short, unless read with an openess to the Spirit. His words, "God is love" when simply quoted fail to do justice, unless the one uttering such words has experienced the deep work of grace necessary to exude that reality.

Lest I digress (my tendency of late), I must admit how troubled I am in this very divisive political moment when "Christianese" is being capitalized upon as justification for the harsh radical change within our republic.

Though some changes are necessary, it is beginning to feel like some trite "moralistic" deception, intentionally blinding us to behind the scenes realities?

At the risk of sounding arrogant, living such a long life, one disciplined by daily attempts at meeting with this One who calls me friend, has afforded me a life experience beyond what any one religious institution or partisan human governance can provide.

Dont get me wrong, both are necessary place holders for we humans, unless abused.

My task, by God's grace, with an exit ramp now in plain view, is that these last few miles may be used to demonstrate solid evidence of the spiritual realities that life has privileged me to experience.

God willing, evidence that overrides any weakened religious dogma or political rhetoric, and in its place, creates an atmosphere of reverent awe for this "One who is beyond finding out."

"Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

2 Peter 1:13-16 KJV