DR. AGNES MARTINKO Aflame by God's will -- not burned out by loneliness

When do you feel close to God?
That was the question posed at a retreat I attended in Cleveland. Members of the group responded by relating experiences during liturgy or various devotions. Some mentioned times of quiet prayer while others were moved while in a large group of people at a cathedral or during a visit to a major pilgrimage site such as Lourdes or Medjugorje. Moments of intense encounters with the beauty of nature, also, were described by participants as a time of feeling close to God.
Each of us can probably remember those times when we were especially touched or inspired and felt very close to God. It is those precious epiphanies that carry us through the rough days. But, life is not lived in some future longing or by cherishing past experiences. The present constantly challenges us to make choices with respect to our thoughts, words, and behavior. As people of faith, we use our religious roots and spiritual practices to guide us in our unique pathway through the maze of life experiences.
What happens when we are confused about a difficult decision and, perhaps, don't feel that God is close by with offers of help? There is no burning bush or direct voice of God to guide us. That's when you have to look for subtle signs of direction. In my experience, when some related thought keeps recurring or a series of coincidences happens, that draws my attention and makes me consider the idea as an answer to a particular dilemma.
Seeing 'the light'
That happened to me the day of the retreat. We had been discussing various ways to see "the light" and to be inspired to make right choices without the direct experience of the voice of God or burning bush that Moses had.
Those thoughts were still on my mind as I drove to Playhouse Square to see a performance before returning home. The play was a classical Greek drama, "The Bakkhai," written by Euripedes in 406 B.C. I was not familiar with the play and definitely have no expertise in classical drama.
But, in my readings, I have seen quotes from Euripedes and, since it received an excellent review, decided to attend. I was jarred to attention to discover a flaming tree on stage as a major image during the play.
"To be aflame and not consumed by life," was a message I needed to hear.
The director of the retreat had raised these points during the presentation: Do we not contain that divine spark of the flaming image of God within us at all times? Were we not given the gifts of the Holy Spirit through the image of "tongues of fire" at confirmation? Can we bring that presence into the decision-making process? Can we see that presence in others?
No small task, but, maybe, the task can become easier if we are aflame in doing God's will instead of being burned-out by thinking we are all alone.
When do you feel close to God?
Send your responses to the question, "When do you feel close to God?" to religion@vindy.com or the religion editor, The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown, Ohio 44501-0780.
XDr. Agnes Martinko taught a course on death and dying at Youngstown State University.