Mark Jones – In His Dust

I’m reading a book at the moment called ‘God is closer than you think’ by John Ortberg. So far it’s quite good, and most likely the next few blogs will be about what I’m reading/learning from this book.

My ‘bit’ of the moment is this:

This is Michelangelo Buonarroi’s painting of God and Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Check out God in this painting. He’s stretching out. His body is straining. He looks as if there’s alot of effort going into trying to reach out to Adam in the painting. There’s what I suppose to be Angels holding onto God almost as if it’s so he can lean out further. His gaze is fixed upon Adam. His finger is extended straight towards Adam. God (in this painting) looks as if his entire being is wrapped up in trying to connect and close the gap with this man. What an effort. It’s almost as if God has got as close as he can be…. and is now waiting for Adam to make his move. It’s Adam’s choice after all – to close the gap. To connect.

Then there’s Adam. He looks quite relaxed. Lounging about. He’s sorta lazily reaching out his arm in the direction of God. But… he’s not quite there. His body is leaning backwards, as if he’s not that interested in connecting with God. Perhaps, seeingas God came this far… he can finish it off himself. Why should Adam put in the effort?

If you look closely at the painting, it looks as if all Adam has to do to ‘connect’ with God is to raise his finger.

So. It’s a reminder. Maybe God is closer than we think. He’s never further than a prayer away. All it takes on our part is the barest effort, the lift of a finger.