Wasting time with God (Part 1 of probably many entries on this book)

That is the title of a favorite book of mine.  Catchy, isn't it?  Who would think of wasting time at all in our culture?  And isn't wasting time like channel surfing, watching a useless movie, or hours on social media?

The book I am referring to is subtitled: A Christian Spirituality of Friendship with God by Klaus Issler.


I think most emotionally functional people regardless of their personality type desire relationships with others. Some prefer deep relationships with a few people.  Others prefer deep relationships with many people. Note that I added the word "deep" in both sentences.  As I've written before, extroverts have the capacity and desire for deep relationships with many people. And they can actually DO THAT. They have a large capacity for people and gain energy from being with people.

At the beginning of this book mentioned above, the author quotes what I refer to a "life Bible verse," John 17: 3:  Now this is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  That verse  might have been the clincher for me in embracing Christ and Christianity--the idea of having a relationship with God.  Issler also mentions Revelation 21: 3 (NRSV): "The home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them;....they will be His peoples and God Himself will be with them." 

Being a friend of God....seems outlandish in one sense yet strangely real in another.  Blaise Pascal, a famous French mathematician and philosopher, put it like this: "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ."

The "outlandish" comes to mind: God is, GOD, you know, Creator of the universe. I am just one of billions of souls.  Yet, we have a connection.  

As I have studied the gospel of John this year and continue (only on John 15 at this writing), I find myself so interested this guy John.  You may have heard a speaker refer to the apostles' personalities types. Who is the apostle extrovert, like me?  It's always Peter.  Yet I find a real connection with John.  Both of the verses I just quoted were from John's writings. Many scholars have written about the theology of the gospel of John. Clearly John presents Jesus as God through the themes of the responses of the religious leaders, the miraculous signs, and the "I am" statements.  

However, John also uses terms and themes that emphasize the relational aspect of God in His triune nature and then with us.  I often remind myself that much of what John wrote must have been shocking to the disciples:  God as Father, indwelling of the Spirit, peace of heart, Jesus' promise of His ongoing presence in their lives. 

Issler wrote that at the beginning of any relationship there is a hiddenness.  "Time and common experiences with provide the opportunity, but each party must decide whether or not it is worth the effort to bring down the barriers of self-hiddenness" (p.16)  Common experiences.  Yes, common experiences really cement a relationship.  However, we can have a common experience with God or another person and the hiddenness remains, and the relationship does not grow.

I watched the Denver Broncos football came on Sunday and just marveled at the shots from the air, "All those people in the stadium."  (All wearing orange and having spent a bundle to sit there in the cold.)  If I was there, I would be sharing an experience with the people around me but I would not have a relationship with them.  We can do things with people and yet have no relationship.  Think of conversations that you may have had or overheard on an airplane.

To have a relationship with someone, verbal and non-verbal communication has to happen. If I am just with a person and not speaking, this can be bonding as well if a close relationship already exists.   Issler implies from the title of the book that wasting time with God (such a catchy title!) will develop our friendship with God. I will read on to see exactly what he means. The truth is, though, that in order to have a relationship with God or anyone, you have to be intentional as well. When you are in an experience, you have to experience that event with the person or in this context WITH GOD.

For example, let's say you are in a difficult situation at work.  The chaos and complications build daily. How can I experience this time with God?  Or is it just like in the football stadium, God is there with the masses of people but not a part of what is really going on in my mind and heart?

In the spiritual formation community, we talk and write a lot about spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, reading the Bible.  I am very positive about spiritual practices.  I would like to emphasize in this posting the spiritual practice (or discipline as it might take just that, discipline) of going through daily experiences, whether exciting, mundane, frustrating, confusing, painful, fun, or frightening with God. I think it takes mental discipline to remember He is there.  How to do that?  Say something to Him, whether in your heart and mind or out loud.  If you are like me, it does help to speak out acknowledgement of His presence.  Often it is easier when there is a struggle or fear.  How much would God, who apparently really wants that kind of relationship with us, delight in that?  

I am touched and delighted when people seek out my presence.  As we are made in His image, I suspect God has those same feelings as well.