I become my image of God

I have often maintained that God is to us what we want God to be (see Road to Emmaus). So it was with interest that I read the following from Caryll Houselander:

There is a widespread idea today that it does not matter what our conception of God is like...but as our conception of God is, so we ourselves become. If we think God is hard, we grow hard; if we think God is a kill-joy, we become kill-joys; if we think of God as omnipotent secret police, all-present, all-seeing, all-terrible, we shrink from God, and the heart that shrinks from God shrinks to nothing. (From Lift Up Your Hearts)

Houselander's words do hold an important truth. Those whose God is severe do become severe and judgmental. Those whose God is kind and merciful are generous with mercy. And those whose God is vague and far away, well, they tend to flounder with no particular direction and no particular purpose.

In this light it is good to reflect on my image of God. Because it is the character I am taking on for myself.

The road to Emmaus

Jesus walks with his disciples along the road to Emmaus, and they do not recognize him. I've always loved this story from Luke. Here are two disciples talking about Jesus, and when he comes into their midst, they do not know him. And what does Jesus do? He walks along with them, and joins in their discussion. He is to them what they think he is, a stranger.

I've often wondered if Jesus is to us what we think of him. If we treat him like a stranger, then he remains a stranger to us. And if we treat him as a friend, then he becomes our friend. Think of the gospel story of the Emmaus disciples. Jesus remained hidden to them all day long as they walked along the way. It wasn't until they treated him as a friend, inviting him to "stay with us, for it is nearly evening, and the day is far spent," that they saw him as their friend.

I'm reminded of an old communion hymn that went, "Jesus, Jesus come to me."  He comes. But do we recognize him?