The lobby of my office has a flat screen TV on the wall that is usually tuned to news programming. As I was passing through, returning from my lunch break, I saw a story on the tube about a man who believes the Virgin Mary has appeared on his Dawg door. He was calling it a sign - my response was, "It's a sign you need to wash your dawg more often - that door is filthy . . ."
But I suppose I should not cast dispersions.
I am agnostic when it comes to these sorts of things - Virgin Mary on a dawg door, face of Christ on toast, Fletcher on the BBQ . . . I have no problem admitting that images appear in strange places - does it mean something ? Maybe. Sometimes. Probably not every time . . . I don't know.
What amazes me is that people can see God in a water stain but don't notice him in the wind, the rain, the sun, the cold . . . all around us.
John Wolfgang Von Goethe said, "Nature is the living, visible garment of God".
Romans 1:20 says: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
Somewhere along the way, I read a quote about a student coming to a teacher and asking, "Teacher, I cannot see God - would you help me to see him?" to which the teacher replied, "I cannot help you - for even as you cannot see God, I cannot not see God at all times."
Of course, some people take it a little too far and say that the woods are their church and they worship and experience God through nature and have no need for organized religion - which is a little like saying you love your husband but you just choose not to live under the same roof with him and the kids . . .
I think one of the best examples of a healthy balance between seeing God in nature verses actually worshipping nature itself is found in the Canticle of the Sun by Saint Francis:
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten the night.
He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.
Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.
So if you see the face of God, Jesus, Mary, your Dawg or loved one in your breakfast cereal and it gives you hope - more power to you. Who am I to say it isn't a sign?
Just remember that we live in the midst of a world full of signs - if we only have eyes to see them.
And seriously. Wash your dawg.
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