About God. Making the relationship last.

Quakers can talk very meaningfully about those times when they have encountered God. Although these instances can seem very diverse, they are usually happy ones, much like the beginning of a relationship, when you are caught up in all the hope, excitement, and attraction of someone you have met.

As with any relationship, this encounter with the divine might well come under scrutiny. After that first rush of enthusiasm there may be critics, sceptics and those who struggle desperately to see the attraction. Among caring friends and family almost everyone is longing to ask the somewhat old-fashioned questions , "Has this new love in your life the means to support you?" and "Where does this relationship lead?

Just as a relationship has its challenges, I think there can be wilderness times in religion. What does it mean when we no longer feel elated, external circumstances intervene and joy transforms to suffering? Does God disappear when we are no longer in quite such a good position to praise him? There must surely be more to religion than an emotional response.

Lately I have been thinking quite a bit about the story of Moses and the Israelites. On their release from Egypt perhaps there really had been that sense of joy, freedom from oppression and so many possible choices. To keep the Israelites safe, there was however to be a route through the wilderness. Having established a relationship, God provided a pillar of smoke by day and by night a pillar of fire to guide them.

About a week ago I arranged to meet a friend in our favourite coffee shop. We chose to sit at a table where there was a view of the floor below, because, one of the pleasures of having coffee out is "people-watching" those busy about their own lives passing by. When I had finished my cup of coffee, I leant against the glass window next to my seat. It struck me then how much I trusted the strength of that glass not to give way. Coming up against something was a very good way of knowing that it was there.

Despite the passage of time and very different cultures it would seem there are certain characteristics associated with being human. At times we all have difficulty defining priorities, making best use of resources, acting responsibly and caring sufficiently for others. The freedom and choices we have today can also seem bewildering and scary. There are other available routes and that pillar of smoke or fire may not always seem so apparent these days within a Quaker Meeting. Perhaps it is more instinctive for Quakers to go on testing the strength of glass and even try to leap through it, once they have discovered its there.

It seemed to me that morning that I should start thinking like the Israelites. Any relationship needs to work both ways. Just as the glass window had prevented me from falling to the shop floor below, I too should start looking out for a framework of law to guide me.