Resting in Father

One of the biggest problems i see in Christianity spirituality today, is a lack of deep residing in, and knowing of the Father. Many are willing to serve with Jesus, but not reside in His Father. There is a core issue of “doing for” God, rather than being “in Him”. The early desert fathers tried to reveal and emphasize, that being in His Nature should be our central aim, even above doing “for” Him. We serve the poor in order to meet Him. We cannot really even help the needy if we are not “in Him”. And, we cannot perform our way into heaven, as one monk put it. That peace which comes from being fully seen loved adored engulfed in Father God, just as Jesus is-this is the space to cultivate. When we find that “space”, we are home already, as St Paul was, and are willing to “do” whatever. Love God, and do whatever, as St Augustine put it. Van Gogh, a former pastor, comes from the other side: “The way to know God, is to love many things deeply.” We need to develop a father-centric spirituality. When we do, we will manifest the fruits of His Spirit, and live in a Peace which passes all understanding. There is a great patience, even towards ourselves and our own development, in The Spirit of The Father, and great knowing that is able to just be, down here. So few creatures are comfortable just being in their own skin, their own contours. Animals often teach me the most about what it’s like to just be. They are just being themselves, and in doing so, as Merton said—when we are being ourselves it is a praise to God. Are we resting in our Creator, are we resting our being in His Being? For Strong is His Hold, as the american poet, Galway Kinnell puts it. We are those called to enter Jesus’ own spirituality which was and is centered on His Father!