A Miracle on the Pop Aisle

I remember reading an article with Hans Zimmer when he was talking about writing the original music score for The Prince of Egypt. He was talking about the scene where Moses talks to God in the form of the burning bush. He basically had to write the most beautiful music ever and told the producers, “If you don’t like this, I cannot do this project because this is my soul put to music.” Allow me to now put my soul in words and if you don’t like this…
I believe in God. But also believe that mankind has screwed up everything we touch. I feel like organized religion is an obstacle man must transcend in order to truly look into the face of God… and I saw Him today.
Now, please don’t misconstrue what I am saying. If you attend church, fantastic. More power to you. I work on Sundays and I am not a regular churchgoer. I love the fellowship with our fellow man. We are not intended to be alone. But it is just not something I need. Other people need it and I would never look poorly on someone for needing church.
But God and I are cool. Personally, I cannot wait to meet him. He is the one with the big “G” on his sweatshirt in gym class. It is going to suck to play poker against him because he will always know when I’m bluffing. But it is going to be great to watch new Star Wars movies with him. He probably has the prequels to the prequels in His movie vault.
That is my relationship with God. It is an extremely personal one. While I have never heard His voice, I feel when He enters my heart. It is a tingling in my spine and a lightness that enters me. Not like a bright light but a weightlessness in my heart. And I tell him “Hi” when He comes to me. It is a similar sensation I get when I hear the Star-Spangled Banner, see a beautiful moment in life, or when a moving musical moment crosses my ears. It is a sensation of peace and happiness that cannot accurately be put into words. It is then that I know that He is with me and that I can conquer any obstacle.
He was with me when my mother passed away. He was with me when my children were born. He was with me in the ultimate highs and the ultimate lows. I have never questioned and I have never been mad at Him, even when He called my mom back at the age of 56. Far too short a beautiful life to be sure. He is with me now as I write this. “Hey, Big Guy. Good to feel you.”
I truly believe that Heaven is like spokes on a giant bicycle wheel and we each get our own individual spoke to create as we choose. And I cannot wait to mount up in the saddle of my giant golden dragon (with the voice that is the blend of James Earl Jones and Morgan Freeman) who will fly me around and show me where everything is and how things work. And when He has time, we will get to walk and talk. I imagine it will be a lot like walking with an amalgam of all my friends and family, only in a singular entity. Because my God is a personal God. He is one that you get to hang out with.
I cannot explain why I feel this way or what in my life has shaped this belief… but in my heart this is how it is.
Today, I met a friend in the store who knows the trials and tribulations I have been facing recently in my life. Today, she comforted me in my sorrow and then told me she was 14-weeks pregnant. I cannot believe that her and Shelly are going to be mommas. So I was giving her a hug and reminded her that Ryan means “Kingly.”
A individual who I had never met before in my life saw me giving her a great hug and jokingly asked for one of his own. So I obliged. I gave this complete stranger a hug. He told me that he needed that today and hoped I was doing well. I laughed and said, “Truth be told, I am horrible.” He paused, turned, came back to me and gave me another hug. This gentleman who could have been my father told me the most inspirational thing I have ever heard.
“I would bear it for you if I could.”
In my hug, the stranger could feel my pain, my heartache and my sorrow, and not knowing me from Adam, wanted to ease my burden. He told me that everything works out in the end and that I have to have faith. I have to be strong. His name is Richard and I told him that was my uncle’s name. He then went about his shopping but I could not let this man go.
I tracked him down a few aisles away to shake his hand and tell him thank you. He told me he is not a preacher. He runs Pensacola Pizza and works as an RN Monday through Friday. He told me that he is not a churchgoer but he believes in God. It told him how I can’t wait to meet Him one day and gave him the poker analogy. He said he could feel God and my belief in my handshake and he offered me some of his energy to help ease my suffering.
As an RN, he has seen souls depart the body and leave for Heaven. He described exactly what my dad saw when Mom passed away. How can He not be up there? How can I not believe?
I told him how my wife was an LPN and wanted to be a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner). Truly, nursing is a godly profession. And the caring and compassion in this gentleman’s eyes and the warmth of his soul was just unbelievable. I glimpsed into the face of God this morning, seen through the eyes of a complete stranger that was willing to help me bear my terrible burden that is destroying my soul and has turned me into a shell of what I was.
We are not designed to be alone. It is our unity and compassion for one another that makes us so human. This is such a stressful time of the year for people when it should be about family and togetherness. Peace on Earth and goodwill towards men.
Be slow to anger. Be forgiving. And let people be human beings. We all make mistakes but you have to forgive and forget. You have to soldier on. I do that by picking up my lightsaber. I am trying to become the Jedi Knight, the samurai, the warrior/poet. Offer a helping hand. You never know how it will impact another person’s day. And by paying it forward, there is no telling the joy you can spread.
What was Jesus’ #1 message? Love. Just love each other. Or to coin a slightly more modern phrase, “Be excellent to each other and party on, dudes.”
I needed to hear the voice of God telling me to shoulder on and not let go of my lightsaber. Be the Jedi Knight. I heard that voice from a complete stranger today. I have never heard the voice of God in my heart – I feel him all the time – but today was the day I heard his voice through a stranger.
I am not a conventional soldier of God. I like to think I am part of His Special Forces. Unconventional but I get the job done. And He is proud of me for that. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comforts me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.
We are nothing without God and God is nothing without us. Forgive my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil. For OURS is the kingdom and the power and glory forever.
Do not give up hope. Do not give up faith. And do not give up love. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. I will illuminate my path with my blue lightsaber. I hope you find your illumination. Seek and ye shall find…