Finding God in the Park

Butterfly in the Garden, Amherst, NH, July 2005, Pentax Optio 555, Exposure 1/40 sec @ f7.9, ISO 64, with flash, © Steven Crisp

Parks and gardens can be such magical and inspirational places. See a related post at my Just Un-Do It blog, entitled Finding Buddha in the Garden, for what I mean. Remembering all of that made me think of this story, another from Michael Josephson:

Finding God in the Park

Abe was fiercely independent even at the age of 85, but after a mild stroke his son insisted that he move in with him. Abe missed going to the park near his old apartment and one Saturday he set out to find it. When he became disoriented, he asked a young boy where the park was. The boy, named Timmy, said that he`d like to take Abe there, but that he didn`t have time because he was out looking for God. Timmy said he needed to talk to him about why his parents were getting a divorce.

"Maybe God is in the park," said the old man. "I`d like to talk to him too about why he has made me useless." And so they set off together to find God.

At the park Timmy began to cry about the divorce and Abe lovingly held his face in both hands and looked him straight in the eyes. "Timmy, I don`t know why bad things happen, but I know it`s not because of you. I know you`re a good boy and your parents love you and you`ll be OK."

"Are you sure?"

"I`m sure."

Timmy gave Abe a big hug and said, "I`m so glad I met you. Thanks. I think I can go now."

From across the street Timmy`s mother had seen them hug so she approached him and in a worried voice said, "Who was that old man?"

"I think he`s God," Timmy said.

"Did he say that?" the mother demanded.

"No, but when he touched me and told me I`m going to be OK, I really felt better. I think only God can do that."

When Abe got home, his son in a scolding voice asked, "Where were you?"

"I was in the park with God," Abe said.

"Really? What makes you think you were with God?"

"Because he sent me a boy who needed me, and when the boy hugged me I felt God telling me I wasn`t useless."