The Lord sees us as children.

It's no new thing to think of the Lord as our Divine Parent, nor to imagine Him thinking of us as His children. But have we ever really stopped to think about what that must be like for Him? And have we ever stopped to think how that analogy might have practical application in our lives? Should not we strive, in our parenting, to be like the Divine Parent? And when we see our children misbehaving, should we not also see ourselves misbehaving in God's eyes?
I am the father of a two year old girl, and a 10 month old boy. I have not been a father for long, but in that time I've had some wonderful epiphanies about the relationship between parent and child, both in a merely human sense, and in a Divine Human sense.
For example: when we tell our children not to do something, and they then go and do it, seemingly disregarding our authority as parents, we often get angry, and might even say, "What did I just tell you!?" What must it be like then for the Lord, every time we choose to disregard his Commandments? In this light, we could almost hear His authoritative voice saying, "What did I just tell you!?" We as parents might punish our children for misbehaving and not listening, but let us remember to think, "What would our Heavenly Father do?" There are definitely punishments for disregarding the Lord's Divine Laws, and mostly the crime brings it's own punishment, but the biggest thing to remember is that the Lord is Mercy itself. He is always ready to forgive us; even when we break His Commandments, He never gives up on us. This is a good thing to remember as parents ourselves. How often do we unnecessarily remain angry with our children for misbehaving, when we need to teach forgiveness by being forgiving.
Sometimes we may see our children doing something that we know will harm them, say for example, a two year old runs out into the street. We may respond dramatically and even seem angry with the child, but ultimately it is out of love and fear for their own safety and life. Let us therefore remember that everytime we break one of the Lord's Commandments, that He is in fear for our eternal life. He loves us and doesn't want us to be hurt by the Hells that would attack us and draw us down if we choose to not listen to our Divine Parent.
I've often seen situations where I can't help but think of my child as being stupid. "How could you do that? You know it will hurt you! You just did it a minute ago, and it hurt you then too! Think about what you're doing!" But then I remember that I'm talking to a 2 year old, who, when I say "Think about what you're doing!" all they are capable of thinking is: "What does that mean?" I wouldn't blame the Lord if He thought of us as stupid. He has laid out the path to happiness, and yet we so often choose to disregard it. And then I remember that, of course the Lord doesn't think of us as stupid, we are just children in His eyes. Some of the stupid and selfish and even wrong things we do, He probably sees as cute. The Lord is patient to let us grow up bit by bit. Let us learn to be just as patient with our own children.
Being a parent, I've often thought, is a crash course in love, charity, and selflessness. And part of the reason it is that, is because it's a chance for us to walk, for a time, in the Lord's shoes. It's a chance for us to get to see what we look like through His eyes. It's a chance for us to learn how to be a loving parent, just as He is. I'm very grateful for the things I've learned by being a parent.

The essentials of the Church

My religion is called the New Church. Here are some favorite quotes, first from the Bible, and then from the Writings of Emanuel Swedeborg:
First from Matthew, the two great commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt 22:37-40)
The two essentials of the church are to love the Lord, and to love our neighbors; to be charitable and thoughful towards all of humanity, to wish everyone well.
Now from the Writings of Swedenborg: "“In the Christian world it is doctrinal matters that distinguish churches; and from them people call themselves Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists, or the Reformed and the Evangelical, and by other names. [We in the New Church might insert here: Kemptonites, Bryn Athynites, Happy Clappy types, Pillar Huggers, People who like contemporary services, People who like traditional services, People who go to Laurel Camp, people who go to Jacob’s Creek Camp, General Church, Convention, Conference, Swedenborgian, The Lord’s New Church, etc.] It is from what is doctrinal alone that they are so called; which would never be if they would make love to the Lord, and charity toward the neighbor the principal of faith. Doctrinal matters would then be only varieties of opinion concerning the mysteries of faith, which truly Christian people would leave to every one to hold in accordance with their conscience, and would say in their hearts, that a person is truly a Christian when they live as a Christian, that is, as the Lord teaches. Thus from all the differing churches there would be made one church; and all the dissensions that come forth from doctrine alone would vanish; yea, all hatreds of one against another would be dissipated in a moment, and the Lord’s kingdom would come upon earth.” (Heavenly Secrets 1799)
So true charity, true love towards the Lord and the neighbor, is not only the core of the church, but the life of a church. For without true charity, a church naturally splinters, shatters, and dies.
My own local church society is currently divided on the doctrinal issue of what forms of worship are appropriate. I hope and pray that we can come to know that even within one society we can have differing opinions and different forms of worship, and yet still be united in true Christian charity, and focused on seeing the good in everyone.

First Blog Ever

Hello. This is Solomon Keal. I am a Solo Piano Artist, Composer, Songwriter, and Recording Engineer. I am also a husband and father. I am also a religious person, and my religion is called the New Church. This blog page will be dedicated to thoughts about the above mentioned parts of my life.