But, who are You?

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name…

My eyes are closed, my breathing shallow and slow.  These words have been on my tongue and in my mind ten thousand times.  Today, as I voice this prayer, I try to picture You.

You are I AM.  You are before time, before heat and cold, before wet and dry, before clamoring and silence and even before physical and spiritual.

You are I AM – but who are You?  Should I see you as a swirling mist of goodness and love?   Do You occupy space – or are You space?



You are I AM – but who are You?  You walked this earth in the in the ways of man.  A man – like me;  A man whose feet raised dust while treading on the paths to Jericho,  a man who quenched thirst at a well,  a man who slept on the deck of a boat during a storm.

You are I Am – but who are You?  You walked this earth in the ways of man.  A man – but not like me;  A man whose touch healed disease,  a man whose word drove out demons, a man whose compassionate look turned hearts and brought peace to souls, a man who raised the dead.

You are I AM – but who are You?  Should I see you as a person who lived and died - for me?  Is it possible to feel your arms around me even though You have left this physical plane?

You are I AM – but who are You?  In the midst of this confusion, this lack of human understanding, I do see You.  It doesn’t matter - this picture of You in my mind at this moment, or the next. You are swirling mist in nothingness with a love that transcends all experience.  You are man who sacrificed the separation of this love in order to show Your love for me.

You are I AM.

You are the inquisitive look I see in a child’s eyes, the brushing touch I feel from those I love, the joy I witness in the midst of your creation, the gaze that admonishes yet wraps itself around the admonished in forgiveness.  You are the joyful notes in a love song and in the music of sadness, You are its tears.  You are even the wetness of a dog’s tongue while wagging its tail in anticipation of human kindness and friendship.  You are everything good and I am blessed with unspeakable gratefulness for the gift of Your presence.

Amen.