A Client And I Were Chatting The Other Day
And he said he’s got a theory that God is a bit of a sadist. I’ve heard that from other clients too. In fact, a part of me can buy into the story too.
I mean isn’t that what Murphy’s Law is all about, “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”? So what’s up with that? Is God really out to give us a hard time?
It’s a serious question. Because sometimes it seems like that.
But I’m Not So Sure
I kind of think that God just likes change. Because there seems to be no end to change and evolution in this world.
And change requires letting go. Destruction actually. Destruction of the old so that there’s room for the new.
So I guess you could see God as a sadist if you focus on the destructive part. Or you can see God as helpful if you focus on the creative part.
But I Think It’s More Personal Than That
I’ve noticed that the times when I have a problem with God are precisely the same times when I’m not getting what I want.
If I think “good” means getting what I want. And “bad” means not getting what I want. Then God seems like a sadist when I don’t get what I want.
But What If Getting What I Want Was Not Good?
For example, a baby bird might just want to stay in the nest and get fed by its parents for the rest of its life. It doesn’t know the joy of flying yet. The baby bird may think “nest = good = what I want.”
And when the parents start kicking out the other chicks, the baby bird thinks, “kicking out = bad = not what I want. Therefore, parent = sadist.”
But the parents know from experience: nothing ventured nothing gained. And for them the risk is worth it. Because they know that flying beats the heck out of spending your life sitting in a nest waiting for food.
So they kick the baby bird out. And maybe after it flies, the little chick thinks, “Parent = save my life = what I want = no sadist.”
So It’s All A Matter Of Perspective
From the perspective of me not getting what I want, sure, God looks like a sadist. But is it really true?
The natural evolution of life consistently breaks my attachment to small things. And if I follow the trend, it consistently moves me in the direction of something bigger and better: towards a mindset that is free.
A free mind is not attached to getting what it wants at all. Because it can find goodness in not getting what it wants as well. There’s goodness either way–and often more goodness in getting what I think I don’t want.
Who knows. Maybe God is not a sadist at all. Maybe I’m just masochistic in my tendency to resist change.
If you ever want support in going beyond what you think is good and bad, The Work of Byron Katie is a tool for doing just that.
Have a great week,
Todd
“If you believe that anyone’s action is bad, how can you see the good in it? How can you see the good that comes out of it, maybe years later?” Byron Katie, A Thousand Names For Joy
Want to get these articles delivered to your inbox every week? Subscribe to the newsletter here.
