Long Time, No See

Hey, people... all the various people who aren't reading this... because I'm still the only one who ever did this or checked this...

Went to Temple today. Not really exciting, except at one point during the morning blessings - Blessed are you our God, creater of the universe, blah blah, for making us in your image. Something about that kind of strikes me. Just because we are humanoid doesn't mean that that's what God's "image" is... In fact, the point where I most feel God in the service is always either during the Mourner's Kaddish - all those voices saying the same thing together does it for me - or during R'fuah, a healing prayer by Leon Cohen (I think) that takes the place of Misheberach in my shul on the third Friday of every month. Something about that kind of sense of community is what God has always meant to me.

Look at it this way: God is temperamental (see the Flood in Noah, his complete temper tantrum on top of Mount Sinai, and hisoverreaction to the whole hitting-the-rock thing - of course Moses wanted to show up. Till then, he'd always been the little brother, the underdog. Give him a freaking break). So are humans (no need to cite anything, it's just a given). God is evidentally capable of playing favorites - he obviously favored Noah (again, same stories) and blatantly hated Jonah - he shoved him in a whale. What about that is so different from humans? Nothing.

And yet, we can't show our skin to God, according to traditional Orthodox, at the very least. Why else would women have to sweat in long sleeves and wigs in the heat of summer? I don't get that - I never have. If that part of us - our appearance - is God's image, why is He (It?) so averse to seeing his (in this case, there's just no better word) creations in action (as it were)?

So. "His" "image." Given the fact that he doesn't want to see our skin, and that his personality is basically ours as well, I think those two words in quotes need to be reinterpreted, or at least reconsidered. First of all...

Yes, Adam came first. But does that mean anything? Maybe he only had the idea first. Maybe he was saving boobs and mood swings for later - the best for last! Maybe he was working with Paperback Methodology - though the paperback always comes out after the hardcover, paperbacks are more widely accessible and can become more popular than the hardcover version, which is heavier and more ungainly. Of course, this is not a direct parallel, but both are successful - who's to say that God is a man, complete with a beard and a dick? (Forgive the sacrilige.)

And who's to say God can't be found within common things? Of course we've all said these annoying words "God is in everything and everyone." Excuse me, but blah blah blah. We say plenty of things we don't mean when we're in Temple. Including, by the way: "God is the creator, not the creation," which is a contradiction completely, because of the first phrase we all recite fifteen thousand times.

But I don't even mean things. I mean... experiences. God doesn't have to experience time laterally. He is everywhere, all the time. So...

when someone you've never said more than two words to ("Hi" "Bye") smiles so brightly that the room lights up when you come forward to say two more words - the same ones, actually - isn't that God?

When you're hugging someone because you might be seeing them for the last time (or for a year, whatever), and you both simultaneously decide to squeeze harder, to remember that person as they were at that moment, isn't that God?

When you're on the phone with someone and the conversation stills but neither one hangs up because at that moment, a thousand things are going unsaid, and the silence is beautiful, isn't that God?

When a community comes together to support one person going through a hard time, isn't that God?

When two girls are on a sleepover and they feel comfortable crying to each other, isn't that God?

When a family decides to work together rather than fight to help another branch of the family tree, isn't that God?

When someone who was walking dead is suddenly inspired, isn't that God?

Isn't God actually everywhere?

Isn't it ridiculous to assume God is some old dude with a John-Brown-esque beard floating around in space, looking around, moving his little chess pieces and chortling whenever we make idiots of ourselves? Isn't it ridiculous to assume "God = Zeus" with thunderbolts (that were half-off at God's Favorite Store, if it was a Jewish God :D ) and a toga, frowning at humanity (and if anyone remembers, smiling at his own disgusting debauchery) and waiting for the right moment to strike? Why does religion have to be so much about submission to this tyrant in the sky, instead of being about experiencing life and enjoying the company of others? Why can't it be based on love and hope, rather than fear and despair?

I may sound like a hippie, but that's how I feel. I'm tired of apologizing to God too, the one person (being? Is God even a being?) I should never have to justify myself to.

Anyway, I'm getting picked up in 5, so gotta go. These have been more musings brought to you by Micaela's Insane Mind.