I read Psalm 8 tonight and was really touched by it. I was thinking about it and praising God with some music I have that goes with it. It reminded me of something I had put away in my heart and hadn't thought of for a bit.
One night in 1974, after completing a "Life in the Spirit" seminar, and feeling so full of the Spirit and blessed and happy, I was driving home. It was dark, and there was a little "heat" lightening in the sky. I'm driving along and the cloud opened up, and there was an image of a Jesus who loved me. I was just amazed, and couldn't believe what I was seeing. Then it vanished into the clouds. That night in 1974, God cracked open my heart.
I was in a bad way for a few months. Nothing seemed okay. I was tired. I went to all the church things, prayed my rosary faithfully, made sure my kids attended catechism and youth group, etc. Yet, God felt absent. I couldn't see the way forward and my emotional pain was the worst I'd yet experienced. I felt empty, abandoned, helpless. (I won't go into the problems here, the rest of the story is the point). Finally I cried, "I can't do it anymore, Lord. It's up to you. Your will be done!"
That was when God's grace flooded over me, washing away the fear, pride, allowing me to experience the God of the universe - the creator of all of it - MY Creator - MY LORD!!!! I felt God's boundless compassion and mercy for all, and for ME!
Ps. 8:3-4 - - - "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are we that you are mindful of us, mortals that you care for us?"
This is one of the grand mysteries of the universe. Why should God care for us?
And yet, when I read the bible for the grand sweep of God's romance with humanity it's clear to me that God has gone to a lot of trouble to help us understand.
Read through Chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews and see a little of the troubles God has with His children. We so easily forget what God has done for us.
Ps 8:5-8 - - - "Yet you have made them (man) a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen . . . the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea."
I can just picture God sending His only son, Jesus, to us, saying "Do you think they'll understand how to face the world with love, compassion and how to lose their fear and self-centeredness. Do you think they'll get it this time? I'm sending the best example I have!"
My vision that night shows me that God still tries to reach us. I believe God's messages come to each of us in very personal, individual ways. And always, at center, God hopes we'll respond "O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth!" ps 8:10
