Reverence versus Humility

As I was reading Prayer today, I was struck with a sense that God’s relationship with us may be far more personal, in a way that is much more human, than we realize.  Mankind has almost exclusively considered God in a very formal and reverent way.  He deserves our reverence, but I wonder whether He’d prefer a more personal expression of our love.

Specifically, I’m speaking about the notion that God prompts and looks for an element of amusement in His relationship with us.  Does He smile at us in amusement?  As a father, I smile at my children’s immaturity and understand that to try to teach them something beyond their grasp is not effective, so I smile.

But is it amusement or is it really something else?  Am I amused by their immaturity?  Or am I smiling in adoration and love and accepting that they have much to learn, much growing to do?  I suppose it’s more the latter, I look at them with adoration and accept their current stage of growth.  I don’t laugh at them in amusement, or if I do, I end up feeling guilty for it.

Father, is there any truth to this?

Michael, I do adore you.  And yes, I do accept your current stage of growth, but am always providing guidance into your next steps of spiritual maturation.

Do I amuse you in my immaturity or in my mistakes due to immaturity?

It is not amusing.  It is actually saddening.  Your immaturity is due to the world’s influence and control over your heart.  That is not amusing.  But you are right in one thing.  I do seek to have a personal relationship with you in a way that is far more intimate than most people realize.  Most of the time, the nature of formal reverence actually gets in the way of intimacy in my relationship with people, so formal reverence is not something I desire.  What I desire is humility.  Formal reverence is a form of humility, but if it’s not recognized for what its purpose is, then it becomes the focus, rather than our relationship, and so it gets in the way, and it is undesirable.

I think I understand.  That is very enlightening.  I hope to continue this later tonight when I’m not distracted.  Thank you Lord.

[To be continued…]