How God Fits In, Part 1

This post is the first in a series, the topic of which is “how God fits in” with the content of The Catalyst of Confidence. If you have not read the introductory post, Does God Fit In?, I encourage you to do so before continuing.

Question: "How does God fit in with the things you talk about in The Catalyst of Confidence?"

Upon being asked this question I am always reminded of a story I once heard. It tells of an elderly man of God, who lived in a city by the sea. Although the area was known for hurricanes, the man was never frightened. “God will protect us” was his motto and he had lived through many storms. One day, the makings of a massive hurricane were spotted on radar off the coast of the city where the old man lived. The population of the city held their breath, waiting in angst for the news of it's status. It was soon reported that an enormous hurricane had formed, perhaps the largest the area had ever known, and consequently the entire area was ordered to be evacuated by the authorities. The city where the old man lived would surely be destroyed. But the old man was a man of God, and holding fast to his belief that “God will protect us,” he vowed to stay in his home. It wasn't long before the old man's family arrived at his house, pleading with him to come away with them, where they would all be safe. But the old man refused, stating that he would never abandon his home and that “God will protect him.” The winds soon began howling, the clouds darkening, and the hurricane was closing the distance to the coastline, when word reached the rescue squads that the old man was still in his home. Desperate to rescue him, they made their attempt in the face of the incoming tempest, and as luck would have it they arrived in time. But again the old man, becoming quite agitated, refused. “God will protect me!” he said. “Have you no faith at all!” Time was running out, and the rescue squad was forced to abandon the old man. When the storm finally hit the coastline, it did so with a fury never known to the population of the area, laying waste to all in it's path. When the old man saw the face of God, he knew that he had died in the storm. But he was puzzled: “God! I put my faith in you—I trusted you—I thought you would protect me!” In response, God said: “I made sure you saw the news report about the largest storm in your city's history where they warned you to evacuate the area; I made sure your family came to take you with them to safety; I even sent a rescue squad to come save you before it was too late—what did you do?”

This simple story illustrates the point I wish to begin with. Namely, that humans have a part to play in the world. Though God sustains the contingent existence of mankind, man still holds an active role in the drama of creation: man must act. More than any other characteristic of being human, the proposition that “man acts” is an ultimate given. For it is only through the process of acting that man can do God's will. As mentioned in the previous post, Rah-Rah-Rah, The Catalyst of Confidence explains and analyzes the facts of being human. Just as God has created the universe, which is subject to certain laws (such as the laws of physics), so did God create mankind, which is not only subject to the laws of nature, but also to certain conditions which are inherent to the human person.

That being said, at it's most basic and fundamental level, The Catalyst of Confidence explains to the average person the “inherent conditions of being human” which radically influence their ability to act. Some examples from the book itself have been listed below:

• A person always acts in accordance with what they believe.
• A person has the ability to choose something rather than something-else.
• A person's life is directed by their goals and dreams.
• A person's dominating thoughts determine their attitude and behavior.
• A person's actions, when performed consistently over time, become habits.
• A person's fears can paralyze them or help them grow.
• A person's failures provide them with feedback to learn and succeed.
• A person's deceptions limit their potential.
• A person's emotions are powerful forces in influencing their behavior.
• A person's actions have consequences.

The aforementioned statements reveal some of the “inherent conditions of being human.” Conditions which, whether we acknowledge them or not, affect our lives all the same. I would like to submit to the reader that these conditions are a definite part of who we are as human beings, and that the better we understand these conditions, the better we are able to do that which we ought.