Subjective God

God is Good

“God is the name by which I designate all things which cross my willful path violently and recklessly, all things which upset my subjective views, plans, and intentions and change the course of my life for better or worse.”
C.G. Jung

“An ‘impersonal God,’ well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our heads—better still. A formless life force surging through us, a vast power which we can tap into—best of all.”
C.S. Lewis

As children we are taught that "God is good," and, of course, God is good, but what if God is all there is? We readily ascribe the good things that happen to us as blessings from God, but what if God also brings the hard things that come to us? Are we then cursed by God? Does that which we call God have any role in our misfortunes, mistakes, and wrong turns? Do we wave those away as simply the “wages of sin” or something caused only by the evil of other humans? What if we make a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn in our lives because of it. What if something terrible happens that brings about a complete change in a culture or a country?

In short, what if the hand of the Holy is involved in every aspect of our lives—good, bad, ordinary. I think, of course, of the teenagers from Parkland, FL who, because of one murderous event, became world leaders in the anti-gun-violence movement. And, what about Malala Yousafzai, youngest ever winner or the Nobel Peace Prize. She became a human rights activist in Pakistan after she was shot in the face for encouraging education for young Muslim girls. So many people find their true calling—the place where their gifts and talents meet the world's needs—after disastrous chapters in their lives. Is the Divine involved in that?

God is not some sweet old man who pats us on the back when we’re down. Divine energy is potent enough to change the course of the world in a flash. It is all pervasive and ever-present. The power of the Source will pick us up, shake us awake, and fling us into a new consciousness without permission. And for that, I am grateful. God is indeed good.

In the Spirit,
Jane