Looking Past The Bumps In The Road

 “As the holy weeks of Judaism and Christianity come to an end, we ask: How do you picture God? How do you pray? How does your belief in God connect to your daily life? Karen Armstrong, Krista Tippett, Mark Epstein and the Rev. James Martin join us for this special family meeting.”

This was the introduction to The Brian Lehrer Show, God and You, Monday, April 21, 2014.

I caught only some of Lehrer’s remarkable show. I was heading for the store and, turning the ignition key of my car, the radio immediately caught my attention as I recognized the well-spoken, English voice of theologian, Karen Armstrong. So intent was I on what she was saying that I almost drove past the entrance to Stop and Shop. The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC (93.9) can do that to you.

 Once having parked, I sat in my car to listen further and heard Armstrong tell us that---I am paraphrasing here—only the modern world separates religious beliefs from culture. In the ancient world all cultures were imbued with religious beliefs. To be a politician was considered a sacred act, Armstrong said. Imagine! Politics as a sacred activity?

I was loath to leave my car but . . . time to go!

On the way home, Fr. James Martin, Jesuit teacher and writer, was discussing various forms of prayer: centering prayer—a Catholic, God-centered form of meditation---and “imaginative” prayer—a form of Ignatian contemplation in which one uses all four senses to place oneself inside a gospel scene. I’ve done this practice; it can be very moving.

 Along with Lehrer, Fr. Martin responded to people who called to share what prayer means to them. It seemed every point of view was expressed: from “I don’t believe in a personal God, so I never ask God for anything”—Fr. Martin disagreed---to expressed belief in God’s fatherly and personal presence.

One caller said something I thought wonderful. (Again, I am paraphrasing.) The man said that he knew that life was full of bumps in the road. He knew also that if he focused on each possible bump he would surely hit it. Therefore he prayed daily that God would guide his vision in order that he might always be able to see past the bumps to the clear path ahead.

Every spiritual teacher I have encountered, from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, (The Power Of Positive Thinking) to more recent teachers, Fr. Richard Rohr, for example, (Everything Belongs) agree that remaining as positive as we can—even in the face of adversity---and not focusing too intently on the bumps in the road, helps us to get through the difficulties of life more easily.

Let’s face it. Not one of us wants to be seriously tested. But, simply put, a positive attitude can make life more enjoyable in every way. Let’s look where we want to go. Let’s look past the bumps toward the clear path ahead and pray in gratitude each day that that path is revealed to us.

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 For the Karen Armstrong interview, click on Social History of God: and/or for the whole show, God and You: A Two Hour Special at http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/