FINDING GOD = ENJOY YOUR PANCAKES AND LIFE! - Don Hanley’s blog #61

Ever since I first saw that horrifying picture of GOD the FATHER sitting on a marble throne above the altar in our church before I was six years old, I have been searching for an understanding of God. Indeed, I kept thinking, he could not look or be like that terrible picture. Now, at age 91, I’m still searching. And I know there cannot be a picture but a creative force that can enable me to live a full life.

I have had the wonderful experience of becoming a friend of a Zen priest and teacher. I was having breakfast with him recently, and as I poured syrup over my pancakes, I asked him, “How do Zen Buddhists characterize God?” He looked at me and answered, “Enjoy eating your pancakes.”

Seeing me looking more than a bit confused. He smiled and continued, “In Zen thinking, we do not need a clear picture or understanding of God to have a full life and do the right thing.” I told him of my experience with the word “right” – right must be in the Bible or traditional and official Catholic teachings. He replied, “It is not ‘right’ because of some pronouncement, commandment, or declaration from outside us but the thinking and the urging within us that allows us to sustain our lives and our connections to other persons and all creation. We are congruent with ourselves and with all there is.”

That felt so right, and I wanted to share it with John and Mary and see how it fits with what they believed Jesus taught. I sat with Mary, John, Paul, Ruth, and Julie the next night. Joshua was working with a neighbor to fix his roof. For the first time, Paul got up and hugged me just as John had done. He wasn’t used to hugging, but it felt good anyway. After catching up on one another’s weekly goings on, I shared with them my friend’s thought that to find God, we need not have any deep thoughts about God or have a clear picture of Him, but do what we need to do in our lives – from eating our food, walking with our family and friends, and, well, doing positive things that help us and others have pleasant lives. I then asked if that would fit with what Jesus believed.

Mary immediately said, “Yes. I remember hearing Joseph put himself down because he was uneducated or very intelligent. I told him he was wise, and Jesus, only about ten years old, said the same thing. Jesus said that it seemed to him that his father was very much in line with what God wanted for all of us – to be relaxed and comfortable with doing our everyday chores and being helpful. And I remember him saying, “And Dad, I have never seen you do any harm to anyone or even to any animals.” And after a minute, he added, “Well, I did see you kill a poor chicken, but I guess that is good because it helped us to stay alive.” Joseph hugged him.

Paul said, “Sometimes a parent must punish a child for misbehaving, does he not?”

I responded, “I don’t think so. My Zen friend, I believe, would say that if we are in the right way, we will not use punishment to correct a child. I imagine Jesus would agree. Isn’t that true, Mary?”  Both she and John told Paul that Jesus would agree with me. We continued to discuss what we need to do to continue being peaceful and joyous beings with others.

Usually, it was Mary, John, and me versus Paul. As usual, there was more to say, but I disappeared. So . . . 

Continue being the peaceful traveler and heartfelt friend and not eat the menu but enjoy the banquet of life.