Measuring God

How are you going to do it?
How do you weigh the Infinite?
How do you measure the Absolute?
How do you test the IQ of Omniscience? 

Would you measure God for a suit?
Would you ask His age,or how much
money He has in the Bank of Heaven?
What about race, or His education?
What are His interests, likes or dislikes,
pet peeves, political opinions? Or
maybe you want to ask just one thing 
only: What are His dreams, His loves?

Only you humans would ask God such,
only you would try to scale Divinity,
only you can breed such arrogance--
the tiger burning bright asks for no
accounting, nor does the deer as it's
slain, nor the eagle as it soars nor 
the reptile as it slithers--but YOU 
do, you creature of singular gifts!

You want to take the measure of
the Creator, though you've been
told you're made in His image,
something not told to the lion
or the polar bear or the butterfly
and still you want to measure Him....

But why?

Why must you always try put 
God...in...a...box?

You made untold numbers of idols,
all reflecting your vanity, not His.
And then when He came to you as 
one of you, a human being, what did 
you do? You could not understand 
how God could speak so simple and
true, you could not grasp what He
offered you, and so, you killed Him.

A few of the wisest of you knew,
knew it was never God you tested,
never God you wanted to take hold of,
never God you wanted to understand:
It was you all along you wanted to see,
that thing called a soul, which you both
doubted and longed for, that thing even
death could not harm, that Being of Air
and Light you saw in the Man crucified....    


[rec'd n/a in Brian Strand's New Contest #8, August, 2020]
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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Kendrick Avatar
October 22, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Congrats on your high placement. Way to go. I like the spiritual content of this one. Job tried to challenge God in a way but Job wasn't able to measure up. Enjoyed reading your work. Sara
Carber Avatar
October 24, 2020 at 11:49 AM
None of us can measure up to challenging God-- He's got us outgunned! ~thank you Sara for your kind and thoughtful words!
Fowler Avatar
October 21, 2020 at 6:23 AM
Moving piece LJ. Very thought-provoking. Congratulations on the win! Linda
Carber Avatar
October 21, 2020 at 11:43 AM
Thank you, Linda
Leiser Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 5:04 PM
Powerful poem steeped in meaning, LJ. Thought provoking and so true of us finite human beings who try to put God in a box. We do get a glimpse of the infinite nature of God from His Word, thank goodness! Enjoyed this one!
Carber Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 6:39 PM
Thank you Laura--- I am always happy with even a glimpse now and then--vaya con Dios siempre....
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 3:22 PM
As encrypted souls shed its weight and are reborn unto the way, into the truth, and thereto a wondrous life, Len, my compliments on your honorable placement, Aloha! William
Carber Avatar
October 20, 2020 at 6:39 PM
I like that William--'encyrpted souls'
Ermine Avatar
August 14, 2020 at 9:33 PM
... You broached a 'tired' topic with a tangible bent. Sparks relection, examination. You're right, - many forms, and none, are His. More listening to the Lord needed...
Carber Avatar
August 15, 2020 at 9:46 AM
Oh yes, Sigrid, amen to that! And thank you....
Watt Avatar
August 14, 2020 at 6:29 PM
Amazing writing, LJ. Your arguments have the ring of God speaking to Job. Congrats to you for the win you deserve. Many great images and references ~ John
Carber Avatar
August 15, 2020 at 9:43 AM
Thank you, John, I am honored--and Job as it happens is one of my favorite books in the Bible--perhaps I had it unconsciously in mind....
Kauffman Avatar
August 14, 2020 at 1:39 PM
Powerful write, LJ! - our efforts to escape our finite minds trying to plumb the depths of God. I especially like the second stanza - "measure God for a suit!" Delightful! Congratulations on your win!
Carber Avatar
August 15, 2020 at 9:44 AM
Thanks Sam--glad you liked it
Hamilton Avatar
August 14, 2020 at 10:47 AM
An interesting perspective L.J enjoyed this thoughtful write, congrats on a nice win!
Carber Avatar
August 15, 2020 at 9:46 AM
Thank you John, I'm glad you like it.
Brewer Avatar
July 13, 2020 at 9:35 AM
Very interesting, Len. I and my wife have been reading the Old Testament recently, and have concluded that it bears more truth of the fallibility of mankind than the nature of God - the ‘God‘ described is rather a reflection of, and limited by human experience. As your final stanza suggests, when we have learned more of our own nature we may be in a position to measure God.
Carber Avatar
July 17, 2020 at 11:16 AM
I think you made a good point, Geoff-- a lesser intelligence can never comprehend a far greater one. Sometimes I wonder if God finds it frustrating, trying to 'get through' to us...
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