God is in Florida

"In my heart of hearts God is closer to me than I am to myself." (St Augustin)

We are… in Florida, where Irvin and I will be part of a conference about “Making Room for God”. This is part of our continuous education – two weeks a year. We get to choose where to go – it is also possible to stay home and read the growing pile of theological books discovered and ordered as the year went by.

Those few days will allow a change in our daily routine; take time to dwell in the Scriptures. That will be a pause to attempt and discern the voice of God in our lives… while breathing the salted air of the ocean under the sun.

There are 75 of, Presbyterians pastors from the four corners of the continent for this conference. Being to meet and reconnect is one of the greatest aspects of this kind of gathering. We hope to find here the “substance”, the spiritual food that will sustain us throughout the year.

Pastor B.J Woodworth, one of the leaders of the conference, told us the following story as an introduction. A Rabbi was studying the Genesis book with his students. At each step of the creation, we read the famous words “And it was good”. Except… when humans were created.

Why? asked the Rabbi to his students. The answers were diverse and some very inventive but the Rabbi dismissed them. Eventually, he explained that the word “good” (tov) also means “complete, accomplished”. God did not create humans as completed beings. Each of us is meant to achieve God’s work in ourselves.

That afternoon, Irvin and I walked on the beach that seemed to never end. The wind reminded us that winter was here, but we took great pleasure in feeling the waves so close as the birds, seagulls, cormorants and pelicans dived in to capture fish.

That was, yes, tov. Good.