just ask jodes: Abba Patare

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Abba Patare

After the celebration of Communion today, I wanted to share a bit about my feelings and theories on God, my eternal “Abba Patare.” Because God is such a complex entity for me to wrap my head around, it’s always been easier for me to think of him in the realm of a Father figure. Easy for me, because I had a Dad who loved me unconditionally.

Abba Patare is Greek in origin, meaning father. This isn’t a bunch of hogwash. I’ve discussed this at length with my Pastor, the Reverend Dr. Randy Johnson, and he says I am “right on” thinking of God as a father figure.

When you understand how I feel about God being a loving, kind and non-judgmental type of Father, you’ll also get that I don’t feel scared at the thought Him watching over me, watching me live my life. If you know me well, you’ll notice I’m ok with being well behaved and I’m ok when I’m really poorly behaved. My Dad always loved me either way too. He was always thoughtful and forgiving with me.

Just like my Dad, my Abba Patare always welcomes me into His home, His arms, and His place of worship. I think He loves me unconditionally whether I go into a church or not. He loves me when I act stupid; he loves me when I am good. He loves me when I am wrong, he loves me when I am holy and when I act completely unholy.

Just like my own Dad, I bet there are times when He aches watching me, wishing I hadn’t made a poor choice, when I’ve said the wrong thing, ran an extremely yellow light or went to a bar to watch football and drink martinis instead of going to church.

Just like my own Dad, I bet He cries when I’m hurting and wants to carry me when my feet hurt too much to walk. I bet He aches when I’m sitting in church praying “HELP, HELP, HELP ME” because I can’t think of any other eloquent words to send up to Him.

Just like my own Dad, I know my eternal Father rejoices in my joys, loves hearing me sing off key, doesn’t care that my house, garage and car are dirty, and that I wear the same wrinkled clothes over and over again.

I know my eternal Father, my Abba Patare loves me. Only He can see into my heart and soul. He is the only one I care about impressing, and only He gets to judge whether I am holy.

I love you Abba Patare. Thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for bringing me parents who love me unconditionally, so I would learn how to love my children in that beautiful way too.

1 comment:

Meg DutziMarch 8, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Amen!!! Beautifully written and sooo true. I also was raised by parents that loved me unconditionally and talk me that GOD's love was the same way. I try hard everyday to be the same with my own kids.
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I'm Spellbound. The Jodes Favorite Books

**Non Fiction**

The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls

An interesting and humorous autobiography about poverty in America. While millions of hours and dollars are being spent on international concerns, we have serious situations going on right here in America. Read The Glass Castle and fall in love with the Walls family.

The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch

This is a bible, of sorts. Randy Pausch says all the things we should know about life in his “Last Lecture” at Carnegie Mellon University, and in this beautiful book before his passing in July 2008.

A Girl Named Zippy and
She Got Up Off The Couch
by Haven Kimmel

Both are laugh out loud funny. Always my “go to” books if someone asks for the name of something funny to read. These are Haven’s autobiographies about her childhood in Indiana. When I read A Girl Named Zippy, I started compiling my own childhood stories. Thanks Haven.

Wait Till Next Year
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I love memoirs about the simple times in America in the 50’s and 60’s. This is a favorite because of Goodwin’s father, who taught her the joy of baseball and to root for the Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. I read parts of this book to my Dad when he was in the hospital and it made him cry big fat tears of joy. He was a Dodger lover through and through. It's a forever, keeper book.

Dog Days and
Izzy & Lenore
by John Katz

John Katz threw in the towel on his hectic NYC life and moved to the Upstate New York countryside. Now he has a working farm, complete with animals and dogs. Charming, fun and adorable. You will fall in love with his animals. Wait until you read about his crazy cow.

The Other Game
by Nolan Ryan

This is a sentimental favorite always on display in my home. In the last chapter, Nolan Ryan, a superstar pitcher from the Anaheim Angels talks about his relationship with a fan named Chris Migliore. Chris was my friend Anthony Migliore’s brother, who tragically succumbed to Muscular Dystrophy. Gone, but never forgotten.

I Am Third
by Gale Sayers

Gale Sayers played football for the Chicago Bears back in the 60’s. His famous quote, “The Lord is First, my friends are Second and I am Third,” has always been one of my favorites. I also love that he has a chapter in his book titled “Going for the Pookie Burger.”

And Then I Had Kids
by Susan Alexander Yates

My friend Kay Morrison mailed me this book on the pronto when I was deep in the trenches raising my children, thinking I was going bonkers, and not sleeping. It saved my life and helped restore my sanity. Thank you Kay, you are one of my heroes.

Memoirs of A Geisha
by Arthur Golden

An education in the ancient world of the Japanese Geisha. Fasincating!

**Fiction**

Love You Forever
by Robert Munsch

...The Mother sneaks into her son’s room, picks up the sleeping baby and sings, “I’ll love you forever, I’ll love you for always, as long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” She continues to do this even when he is an unlovable teenager and then a grown man. In the end, the son sneaks into his Mother’s room, picks her up, and sings the song to her. I am a puddle of goo just writing this.

The Red Tent
by Anita Diamant

This book literally transported me back to the Old Testament days. My Bible stories came alive. If modern women could rest together for a few days every month instead of running at 100 mph during menstruation, would we kill each other, or thrive?

Redeeming Love
by Francine Rivers

This is a masterpiece. It’s a powerful analogy of the Book of Hosea. It reminds us of God’s unconditional and all consuming love. The last chapter killed me. I openly and joyfully succumbed, wept and then wept some more. We were camping in Bishop. The children peered into the tent. I simply held up the book and continued to cry. It’s that kind of book.

The Passion of Artemesia
by Susan Vreeland

Stephanie and I read this as “homework” on our way to Europe with my Dad and Sam. I wanted the kids to have a fun way to learn about the 1st female in Renaissance Italy to be elected to the Accademia dell’ Arte. When we saw Artemesia Gentileschi’s “Judith” in Florence, it was awesome to see Stephanie and Sam mesmerized by the artistic details mentioned in this book.

RICHER THAN GOLD
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a mother who read to me.
-Strickland Gillilan