i and thou

how is it that i relate to god?  is my “relationship” with god defined through spiritual practices, reading scripture, and prayer time?  is my relationship with god reciprocal or is it a one way street?  do i have a relationship or a religion?

i’ve recently read martin buber’s book “i and thou” (i know it’s supposed to be underlined but i can’t figure out how to on there so i put it in quotes).  let me begin with this disclaimer regarding the book: in no way shape or form do i completely understand it. it was an extremely confusing and difficult read for me.  i think if i read it over and over and over i still wouldn’t completely understand the complexity of it.  with that said, let me share some of the thoughts the book provoked in me.

i and thou challenged my thinking about god.  martin buber begins to express the difference between objectifying a person and having a relationship with a person.  he explains that in our world today we often categorize or classify people instead of truly encountering them in a relationship.  i believe we can find a similar theme in god’s intense dislike for idol worship.  god calls us into a relationship with himself.  the key word there is relationship.

i attempted to describe to myself what a relationship with a friend looks like.  i tried to put my finger on what are the things that i must say and do in order to have a relationship. i couldn’t quite figure it out.  but that’s exactly what i do with god.  i feel as though if i just involve myself with the right spiritual disciples, the right amount of prayer, if i could only use the right language and read the right books than i would be in a relationship with god.  but i’m learning that the categorizing of my relationship turns it into a religion, it objectifies my “relationship.”  instead of truly experiencing a relationship i find myself seeking the right knowledge and right practices.  my prayer is that i may be able to encounter god in relationship, that the practices i exercise and time i spend in prayer isn’t an end in itself.  rather, i pray that they will become a means to encountering god in relationship.

~ by thecalhiokid on October 25, 2007.