Do you often wonder where the term an “Act of God” came from? It probably originated in ancient times when The Gods were blamed for everything. It put some “order” on chaos in order to explain the unexplainable. When disaster happens like a tsunami, earthquake, hurricanes, horrible accidents, disease and death, there is no reasonable explanation so God takes the hit. We blame God for the misery of the world. Psychologically we very neatly do what Sigmund Freud defined as projection: we see something we cannot accept in ourselves so we project it out (onto someone else) in order to get rid of it. That is what we do to God or anyone we blame for some unrest. Throughout the ages we have collectively projected our dark side out there and onto anyone and especially God, because we cannot tolerate it within. We deceive ourselves into thinking the problem is with someone else rather than in our own thinking. Poor old God takes the hit.
We have Free Will so we can think or do anything we want; however, we are miserable and bereft of comfort for we have thrown our comfort away. Like the baby, God went out with the bath water! In projecting “hateful old man” on God we are fearful. We think he is out to get us with his lightning bolt. Ask yourself if blaming God for misery is worth throwing love away. God cannot represent both love and fear. That is like mixing oil and water. God is one or the other. God does not control your life or your thinking….you do – remember free will? What you think is up to you. Give up blaming chaos on God or you will deprive yourself of Love. Remember your thoughts are not always true!
If God is LOVE as many spiritual traditions believe the Creator to be, then surely such an energy could never even conceive of creating evil or malice. A Loving God would never create wars, torture, havoc, birth defects, disease, death or natural disasters.
Speaking of natural disasters, Insurance companies need to stop using the term “an act of God” in their policies. Scientists tell us that global warming is the cause for more intense hurricanes, stronger storms and the shift in world weather patterns. Did God create global warming? Nope, you and I did and still do.
There is no doubt about it God is a great mystery. If there are a zillion people on the planet, we will have a zillion different concepts or ideas of what this mystery might be. But for the time being and until we can agree, let’s stop calling it an Act of God and take God out of the misery producing business. Let’s rid ourselves of the old worn out concept that God is a paranoid schizophrenic, maniacal invisible being, bent on our destruction. That concept has been engrained into our thinking over the Centuries by our very own ego – not God’s.
When you enter the beautiful solid glass doors at SOU, Schneider Museum of Art, in Ashland, Oregon, look down, and you will see these words engraved on a large granite stone: “Art is a Gift from God.”
If Art is a gift, then it would be through our gift of creativity that we could find evidence of God. This means the creative process which has come down over the millennia includes your creativity and the gifts you bring forth. Everyone is creative! What do we do with gifts? We share them with the world. We are born creative. We sing, dance, paint, draw, drum, count, create music, songs, symphonies, write books, plays, poetry, hold a hand, design buildings, bridges, houses, cars, trucks, motorcycles, tricycles, airplanes, wagons and E=mc2 … all gifts to be shared with the world.
Creativity includes Compassion, Trust, Tolerance, Joy, Generosity, Faithfulness, Honesty, Gentleness, Patience, Open Mindedness, Mercy, Kindness and Goodness. Next time you think “Act of God” visit a museum or create something and remember God is in the business of Love, so do something you Love and you will be closer to God! An Act of God then is something that comes from Love flowing through you and the act is in letting it out! You are the Actor!
– Sally McKirgan, July 15, 2009