Monday, April 27, 2009

Majesty & Manicures

So the other day I was doing devotions and talking with God and noticed one of my nails needed filing. I reached for a nearby file, but felt somewhat conspicuous filing while I was praying. It seemed disrespectful (although if I had been filing first and suddenly felt the urge to pray, I'm sure it would have been just fine to continue filing and begin praying).

The Bible describes God/Jesus as our father, brother, friend, groom, rescuer and king. Now I don't know about you, but the way I show love to my parents, siblings, friends, husband and king (president?) are vastly different from each other! When I'm with my friends, I get a cup of coffee and we do our nails together; not so if I were to visit with the President. So is doing my nails while I pray a dishonor to God my king, or is it totally acceptable as something that close friends do together? And pouring out my love with passionate words is right when directed to God my lover, but to God my father or Jesus my brother? Hmmm.

The best way I can think to understand it is that God is GOD, and the relationship we have with Him is impossible for us to fully grasp, so He uses examples of ways He is like a father, like a brother, like a friend, like a lover, like a king, when really He is so much more than any of those. I think He gave us so many different examples because He wants our love in every way it can possibly manifest itself -- we should love him in every way there is to love. Does that make sense, or am I off base?

Even so, I still wonder about filing my nails while praying. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

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