Do we recognize our Heavenly Father’s loving guidance? (14)

Are you wondering why I chose the title “Do we recognize our Heavenly Father‟sloving guidance?” for this series? The answer is clear: Because it is important that we are aware how our Father in Heaven is trying to help His children to resolve their problems.

In previous reflections I shared with you what has been going on in the iUnificationist Meeting House centered on the discussions under my article “Unite and restore the lost heart of brothers and sisters”. Because there are members who have great difficulty to love their brother or sister this theme became the frontline of an intensive confrontation between attitudes that prevail in our church.

I took the time to look through the blog messages that were sent during the first months of this year. In this way I became more aware of how our Heavenly Father has been working through various brothers and sisters to address this community. Through my reflections I try to convey to you what I understand about God’s Desire for us as members of our True Parents’ extended family, as I see it unfolding in our midst.

When we look back to the beginning of this year many of us will remember that there was the big workshop for about 1200 (10 times 120) brothers and sisters together with Hyung Jin Nim and Yeon Ah Nim. Based on the foundation of unity that was established among the members who participated in this special condition our Heavenly Parent could give His Blessing in the form of deep experiences for those who overcame and learned to love their brothers and sisters more deeply.

Hyung Jin Nim characterized these developments by saying “The Holy Spirit is now back in our church, since 30 years of absence.” Why couldn’t the Spirit of God be with us in such a way as it should have been the case? One core answer is clearly because we did not love one another to the extent that our True Parents have asked us to do.

For example, Father said: “You should love other members as you love me. My desire is that you love others more than I do. If you do so, you can love each other as brothers and sisters more than your parents love you as their children.”

After a certain level of unity was reached among our members in Korea through the aforementioned workshop, the next task was/is of course to expand this victorious foundation to the worldwide level. This goal should have been achieved first of all centered on the iUnificationist Meeting House, where by the end of last year more than 2400 had joined, which means two times 1200 subscribers. I wanted to emphasize this fact because our Heavenly Father needs a certain foundation of unity centered on providential numbers.

The number 1200 represents the world-level. Two times 1200 refers to the fact that in the course of restoration there is always the Cain and Abel side, Cain-type attitudes and Abel-type attitudes, that are manifested in the hearts of our worldwide membership. As you could see in previous reflections of this series, there have always been Abel-type attitudes expressed in articles and comments just as well as a Cain-type mindset – which sadly prevailed in many situations.

In other words, it is the hope of our Heavenly Father that the side representing Abel wins the victory over wrong concepts and false attitudes which have tragically crept into our church, hindering the Holy Spirit to be present in our midst as should be the case.

When you check the blog posts that have been offered in previous months you can find that there was a clear time of preparation, during which messages were sent to prepare the hearts of brothers and sisters to look towards God and to learn to love one’s brother and sister more deeply.

For example, on January 16, 2011 one African Blessed brother who lives in Japan, sent a post with the title “Oh my God (Origin)!” in which he shared his dream which led him to cry deep within his heart, based on seeing this dream about the situation of God: “My dream experience had made me to be more determined, that I must never abandon God, no matter in whatever situation I will find myself in this life. AJU!”

The Movie: Letter to God was recommended: “I would like to share that our family very much liked the movie “Letters to God” www.letterstogodthemovie.com/the-movie which to encourage members to connect more to our Heavenly Father and to care more for others.”

On the anniversary of True Father first proclaiming the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven on February 23, 1977 a prayer entitled “HERE ARE NO WORDS” was sent to the community: “Heavenly Father, You created us like your children. You deposited in us all the capacity to reflect your image, all your intelligence. All your love. All the universe exists by and for us, and we must give you joy and happiness… Nevertheless, today I can‟t find words.

… Which word or phrase can give the exact magnitude of the repentance that we feel when we see the course through which they had to pass our True Parents by us? No, there are no words… With what word we could express the pain that we feel when we see that our True Father sleep less than us, eats less than us, rests less than us, and even so it maintains an unshakeable relation with You? No, there are no words.

Nevertheless… Now I can see the great that you are, Celestial Father. Now I can see the secret. An alternative to this emptiness that I feel. The tears that cross our faces when we see our True Parents are the answer to the emptiness of words. In those tears thousands of words are encapsulated, thousands of too complicated feelings as to be locked up in you… Those tears lock up, also, that bow that our Parents with us created and who have been unshakeable throughout all these years. Now yes, with tears in the eyes we can say: glory to You and the True Parents…”

If there are no words, it is all the more important that there are deeds, that the profound love to which this prayer/poem points, is expressed in our behaviour – which was about to be tested in the days that followed.

Encouragement was offered in posts like BECOMING A MESSIAH LIKE TRUE PARENTS: “Many years ago I was in a position to hear Father on a regular basis. I remember him saying many times that we should follow his example and become messiahs in whatever field we go into. If you go into science, become a messiah in that field. If you go into law, become a messiah in that field. Become someone who carries God‟s way of life into whatever field of work that you go into.

This site is made up of different types of people, writers, artists, teachers, and maybe others. I think it is important for each member of this and any other group to use the talents that are given to you by God, and become a messiah in whatever you do. It is also important to offer what you do to True Parents and God in some way…

I am urging each one of you to develop the talents that God has given you. Your talents and the contributions that you make to those around you can change the world in many ways and lead people in your profession to God‟s way of life. So, be like True Parents. Become a messiah, yourself. And do your part to build God‟s way of life in everything you do. God Bless All Of You!”

The author of the aforementioned article also sent some reflections about the theme “TALKING ABOUT…AND TALKING WITH GOD” where it said: “All of my stories have messages of some kind, and many of my stories are very religious. Some of my stories even have God as a main character in the plot, such as “Do You Believe In Miracles?”, “Night Meeting,” “Precious Children: Heirs of God,” and others. You can read most of my stories as blogs on this site.

When the movie “The Next Voice You Hear” was made in the 50‟s, God spoke to the world through radio broadcasts heard around the world at the same time every night for a week. In the movie, we don‟t actually hear the voice. We see the reactions of people who have heard it. And we hear the people telling others what they heard God say. God appears as a mysterious, and in one scene, frightening figure, rather far off and not personal at all.

This is different from the movie “The Ten Commandments,” where we do hear God speak. I find it interesting that here He speaks in a very quiet, almost inaudible, but very strong and powerful voice. It is how I would imagine God speaking…almost that quiet internal voice that you hear about…quiet, but oh so powerful.

In the church, we are taught that it was meant for God to be personal for everyone. We are supposed to be His sons and daughters. As a result, we would be able to talk with God and have Him talk with us.

This is how I write about God in my stories. In my story “Night Meeting,” God shares what His dreams were at the time of creation…almost confiding with the main character of the story. In “Do You Believe In Miracles,” even though God appears as a glowing being, He embraces the orphaned girl with love and becomes personally involved in working out her situation and finding parents for her. The title of my story, “Holding Hands With God,” sort of speaks for itself. Even though God works through angels in this story and does not actually appear Himself, we are told that we can actually hold hands with Him…that He is actually this close and personal.

The interpretation of what God is like has indeed changed throughout the years in movies and television. We can now contribute to the viewpoint of God, a more personal view…yes, a God who is actually close enough to us to hold hands with. You can give others an idea of how God works in your life and speaks with you. You have the ability to help make God more personal in other people‟s lives.”

One person commented: “Thanks Brother Ken, this article is most inspiring, we can teach the world that God is not sitting in a throne waiting to punish us if we wrong him!”

This is certainly true, but on the other hand we must make sure that no bad conditions are laid which enable satanic forces to invade and to cause destruction on inner or external levels. Each one of us is called to contribute to changing the situation of this world in a positive direction. And together we are responsible to show an example to the people, how One Family under God looks, e.g. in the iUnificationist Meeting House.

The members of this internet group were invited: “Please Contribute Blogs for My New Site „God’s Ideal‟ godsideal.blogspot.com with the note by the editors: “Michael Shea Is looking for writers and content creators for his new blog. I included the recent RSS feed of his blog note. God’s Ideal - A New Project for expanding into the ‘neighborhood. I’m looking for contributors to either have their stories and creations linked to or (especially those without a blog) to allow us to host the whole story. Check it out! Thanks, Mike”

My gratitude goes out to this brother and all other members who invest into sharing and witnessing via the internet to the best of our ability.

May we all realize how our Heavenly Father is working very concretely to touch the hearts of His children through the content that He inspires dedicated members to share with their brothers and sisters.