Never Too Late to Find Our Way Back to God
I recently read several articles lamenting that God has rescinded His blessing on the United States of America as punishment for the slide towards an anything goes, immoral, secular culture. Our own wants and desires have taken precedence over God’s. Individuality has replaced community as the most important virtue. In other words, the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the few or the many, (a play on the final words between Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk just prior to Spock’s death, “The needs of many outweigh the needs of the few or the one.”) God has left the United States, and its people are on their own.
I do not believe that God has abandoned us. Rather, it is we who have abandoned God. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is free will. We can choose to sin or not. We can choose to live by God’s laws and desires for us or not. We can choose to be other-focused or be self-centered. It is our choice. He loves us so much that He will let us make our choices – good or bad – and then live out the consequences.
At this point in our country’s history, we are like the lost son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (see Lk 15:11–31). In our desire to live a me-first life, free of any restrictions or moral code, we asked for our share of our Father’s estate and then went off and squandered our inheritance in wild living. Just as with the father of the prodigal son, when we come to our senses and repent of our sins, our Father also will welcome us home with great celebration.
God’s invitation into a loving, life-giving relationship is always there. It is our choice to accept it or not. Being in a relationship with God, and listening and engaging with Him through prayer, fills our hearts with His light and presence. We have a purpose that strengthens us and helps us to resist the world’s temptations. We are not alone, and it is never too late to return home.
Christian Spiritual Direction helps seekers listen for God, become more aware of His presence and movement in their lives, and discern how best to respond to His invitation to live a more fulling Christian life. If spiritual direction is something you would like to explore or you have been in spiritual direction and are looking for a spiritual director, please call me at 404.771.9335.
May God bless and protect you.
BJ Spanos
Spiritual Director
Certified Grief Recovery Specialist®
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