“…turn to the Lord your God.” [Joel 2:13]

          When one plans, one does not plan on changing course. One may continue the course as planned, but to avoid insanity, one then changes how to think and do expecting a different result from previous results. Such a change does not happen organically. Something triggers the needed life assessment bringing the desire for change. Not everyone has the same reason to assess their life to ultimately make a change. It could be a situational event with lasting conditions or a terminal diagnosis. It could be life altering national emergency. With the possibility of each, set aside and without peering into their details, these incidents are impinging, engendering a hopeless appraisal of one’s instant life. These outside stimuli provide a catalyst for self-appraisal of one’s life, obviously unplanned.

            Natural disasters bring a sense of vulnerability. There, amid the panic, grief, and bewilderment, during distressing events, many individual behavioral manifestations noticeably appear. Distressing situations bring out humanity’s base nature and its upper nature. While some plunder taking advantage of others without regard (lower nature), there are a noticeable number of people going out of their way to help someone else (upper nature). While there is always the option to reject God no matter the event, significant among them are people inclining towards God. These situations tend to manifest in some people clinging to their conception of divine solace.

            From experiencing natural disasters, it is fair to say that there is a noticeable contrast in the level of civility and compassion (godliness) during dire conditions than from in the absence of a dire occurrence; the level of willingness for people to go out of their way for others is noticeably less and its occurrence is far and few between. Events of people looting and price gauging in times of emergencies is disheartening. Unfortunately, whatever level of civility cannot be counted for more than a brief time span’s effect until the return to past ways. But that is just civility and human care for others under pressing times and the lack thereof when times are not challenging.

            From outside stimuli or an individual cause, reactions vary. To cope with stressing moments, some may gravitate towards drugs or a risky lifestyle, as many who have sought spiritual solace outside of themselves have realized, the situation does not change unless one changes. The stress from a calamitous occurrence indelibly imprints one’s view of life. Dire situations cause an altering of one’s ways, momentarily, through the lens of despair. But, amid one’s darkest moment, one has the option of clinging to the factors in one’s life that are blessings. This is possible only if one recognizes them cutting through one’s darkness. Those strong points are the blessings to instill the courage to rise above the darkest moments in ones’ life.

            But as one acknowledges the blessings that one unconsciously benefits from – the provision of breathable air – one unknowingly benefits from God’s creative kindness. One then embraces within the sanctity of the unending soul. An acknowledging takes place. The occurring change causes one to be conscientious and considerate of others without reciprocal expectations. Another change that takes place involves shedding of passions and desires that previously displayed the debase inclination of human behavior. Such would alter human behavior from being selfish to becoming charitable. The change where one returns to God. Many will ask, what does that mean?

            Through contemporary skeptical hearts and minds, the curious will remain unknowing, despite being committed to their developed suppositions and theories in their field. Their postulations are an inadequate means of facilitating anyone’s sincere pursuit of ever possibly knowing or of ever knowing enough to reject humanity’s creator. Skepticism towards God quenches God’s desired work in one. If the soil is unreceptive to needed nourishments it withers, as humans would if unreceptive, disallowing their soul as intended. When not, then we all witness those internal conflicts occurring in so many people. Taken together among us, it is the genesis of our social ills.

            Because God breathed life into one, does that mean that one is welcoming, knowing, or willing to change all in the anticipation of God’s presence? Not necessarily. God seeks acknowledgement from a willing genuinely seeking person. Relationship is at the heart of the matter. Relationships cannot exist without the vulnerability of investing oneself with someone else. Disrespecting and not appreciating cannot be.  As of now, an extremely small amount of folks populating this planet have a clue of what it means to have a respectful, contrite, and knowing relationship with one’s creator. Not believing does not eliminate God’s existence. Not turning to God does not change the situation either.

            In this case, the return to God is a life change towards having an open heart. Some may wonder, am I turning to a subatomic particle for a relationship? Do I need a microscope? Regardless of not having a microscope, does that involve interaction? Does it mean having a familiarity with God? Does it mean accountability for one’s actions to one another before God? You may think, “Ok, now you’re getting too personal.” But wait, one thoughtful jarring moment. Can you substantiate your life without your breath or your soul?  

            Day in and day out, God is seeking all of us to turn back and acknowledge their creator. God seeks to draw the hearts of people closer and to have them ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ (Lev. 19:18), without reciprocity. As people allow their souls to draw them closer to God people change and they change among each other. Then prevailing human modus of malice, hatred, and avarice, begin to evaporate. Conversely, as people have become more skeptical, materialistic, and increasingly believe to be entitled, social animus divisions starkly emerge plaguing any progressive peaceable dream. Pursuing to live the soul’s godly purpose is the ‘return’ God expects. Then, as is said: “After that, I will pour out My spirit on all flesh;” [Joel 3:1]