As part of my evening prayer and Examen this last month or so, I have been writing lists of metaphors for God.   For the times when the traditional metaphors don’t quite do it…

God is…

Deep breaths…Blue skies…New knowledge…A listening community…Space to vent…A healthy snack…Lunch break…Giggling girls…A hint of mischief…Air conditioning…An open heart…That favorite movie I play over and over to which I know all the lines…A brother’s teasing…Cool nights…Cicadas’ song…A remembering smile as I look back on my day…Raw emotion…Honest conversation…Garden-watering rain…Hope.

God is…

My everything…The reason I am…A stomach’s growl…Scented markers…Old photographs…Every little thing…Joy…Gentleness…Fun…Moonlight on my face as I Iay down to sleep…A purple-pink sunset…The momma and papa birds caring for their young in the nest outside my window…Puddle stomping…Flying like I’m flying as I run down a wooded trail…A phone call from a friend…A new perspective…Creative dreaming…A good book…A chocolate ice cream cone…Enough.

God is…

Knowing where I belong…Possibility…A foot rub…A game winning homerun…Peanuts in a shell…Cannonballs in the pool…Homemade slip ‘n’ slides…Sprite for an upset tummy…A curious kitten…Laughter…Clean sheets…A field of fireflies…A big glass of cold water…Floss…Being introduced to a new friend…The homeless man on the park bench…Cooperation…Relationship…The little mouse between the doors waiting to be let free…The view from the roof…Honest conversation…My daily yes.

–Sarah