A Monthly exploration in spiritual awareness: June 1, 2026
There is an old sign many of us have seen hanging on a
fence or nailed to a gate: “Beware of Dog.” It is meant as a warning. It tells
us to approach carefully, because behind the gate there may be something
fierce, protective, and powerful. Yet often, once we enter with kindness and
respect, we discover that the barking dog is not only a protector, but also a
loyal companion capable of great love and affection. In many ways, humanity has
treated God the same way, as something to fear before something to love.
For centuries, people have imagined God as harsh,
judgmental, and ready to punish. Religion has sometimes placed a giant “Beware
of God” sign over life itself, causing people to approach the Divine with
trembling instead of trust. But the deeper spiritual truth is that God is not
waiting to attack us; God is waiting to awaken us. Divine Love can feel
frightening only because it asks us to release our selfishness, our pride, and
our fear. The Presence of God shakes the false foundations we have built, but
only so something greater may emerge.
Even human love carries this paradox. A compassionate
person can also be fierce when protecting a child, defending justice, or
standing against cruelty. Love is gentle, yet powerful. Kindness is soft, yet
courageous. Compassion opens its arms, but it also challenges us to grow. In
this way, both the faithful dog and the loving God reveal the same spiritual
lesson: true love protects what is sacred. What appears scary at first may
actually be the guardian of something beautiful.
When we approach life with understanding instead of fear,
the warning changes into a welcome. The barking quiets. The gate opens. We
begin to discover that God is not against us, but within us, guiding,
correcting, loving, and protecting us through every experience. The Divine
Presence is both awe-inspiring and comforting; both mighty and tender. Like the
loyal dog who finally rests its head in your lap, God’s greatest desire is not
to terrify humanity, but to teach humanity how to love.
So perhaps the real message is this: Beware of God only in
the sense that we should beware of living without love, without compassion, and
without awareness of the sacredness of life. For when Divine Love enters the
heart, it transforms us. It tears down hatred, heals loneliness, and teaches us
that the greatest power in the universe is not fear, but love itself.
Keep the faith!
Rev-Bates
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