The Divine Within There are many ways to twist a child’s soul. We can neglect children, hit them, make fun of them, demand perfection from them, expect them to take care of us, deny their pain, discount their emotions, hold them responsible for our feelings, bear grudges against them, insist on obedience rather than kindness, and treat them as possessions instead of seeing them as real, human, divine. A Hindu fable tells of a time when every person was a god. People abused their divinity, however, so Brahma decided he would have to hide their god-ness someplace it could never be found. Yet where could he put this divinity so…
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God’s Love and Father Love
What Is God’s Love? At our Mother’s Day service, one of our members asked, “What’s the difference between God’s love and a mother’s love?” Now that it’s Father’s Day, we could ask the same thing about the love of a father. Yet how do we answer that question if we don’t know what God’s love is? The God described in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures is a complex one. We’ll call this God “he,” since we’re talking about fathers. This God is full of both mercy and wrath. He forgives the sinner, then goes and wipes out entire cities of sinners, their cultures, and even most of the human race.…
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Fathers and Our Values
The Importance of Fathers Fathers are important. Not only must they help bring children into the world, but how they interact with their children appears to have much to do with how those children feel about themselves, how they behave in the world, and how successful they are at life. I say “appears,” because fathers are only one influence in a child’s life. We are also formed by our genes, other family members, media, school, friends, religious communities, and more. Nonetheless, studies do show benefits from having a father in the house, especially one who is supportive, nurturing, and fair. Mothers offer much that fathers do, but mothers and fathers…
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Fathers and Sun Gods
Father Sun Gods Many of the world’s religions worship Father Sun Gods. There’s the Egyptian god Ra who ruled the sky, earth, and underworld. After creating life, he spread warmth and light everywhere and helped things grow. Surya, the Hindu sun god, provided healing and comfort to his people. The Aztecs, however, had Tonatiuh, a cruel god who demanded sacrifices. These gods represent different kinds of fatherhood, whether neutral, cruel, or kind. Apollo, the Greek sun god, revealed yet another type of father, for he was absent. Apollo fathered a child with the nymph Clymene, then he returned to his palace and focused on his work. His son, Phaeton, knew him only…
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The Influence of Fathers
Orlando and Fathers Last week, the big news was the Brock Turner rape. This week it’s Orlando, where Omar Mateen killed 49 men and women in a gay nightclub on Hispanic night. At the Pulse, people who felt condemned, berated, and threatened could be themselves and still feel safe. That sense of safety was shattered. This week also includes Father’s Day, so I thought I’d take a quick look at the impact of fathers on young men who grow up to love or hate, create or destroy. The classic father is wise and caring, yet can enforce rules with gentle firmness. A good father loves and protects us, he always…
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Fathers and Forgiveness
Forgiveness and Coming Home While I was looking for readings about fathers for this Sunday’s Recovery Church service, I re-read the chapter on “Father” in Henry Nouwen’s book The Return of the Prodigal Son. The book is an in-depth examination of Rembrandt’s “Prodigal Son” painting. The Bible story that prompted the painting is about rejection, addiction, and jealousy; it is also about homecoming, acceptance, and eternal love. As Nouwen explores the nuances and depths of both the parable and the painting, he addresses these issues and more, including a discussion about forgiveness. Ah, yes, forgiveness. Fathers and forgiveness seem to go together. Not necessarily because our earthly fathers are so…