This is one of those difficult chapters to write. How does one explain the three separate beings of the Godhead, which are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? Although this doctrine of the Trinity is clear in my mind, somehow it gets befuddled when I try to do the old Vulcan mind-meld with the paper. I worry, how will I ever say what needs to be said, using the K.I.S.S. Principal (keep it simple sweetie), on such a complicated dogma? Will what I write appear irreverent to my readers?

Then it came to me, why should I worry? If this book is truly from God, He will give me the right words to say. If what I say seems irreverent to you, I ask your forgiveness. You know, it’s much easier to ask for forgiveness then permission, right? Just ask my wife! Honey, I’m sorry I bought this brand new computer to write my book on. I won’t do it again, promise (finger’s crossed). People keep asking, how low can you get? I simple say let’s wait and see because I not quite sure where God is directing this chapter, this book, or this life!

It’s easy to ramble when you’re thinking about what to write and how to write it. Allllll righty then, let’s get to the subject at hand, The Trinity. Well, I guess the best way to explain the Trinity, to you, is the same way I explained it to my three small Children:

Dad speaks; "Kids, the doctrine of the Trinity is like the sun up in the sky."

Kid’s, blank stare.

Dad continues; "God the Father is like the sun itself." (Kids interrupt; I thought Jesus was the son) Dad thinks to himself, this is going to be harder than I thought… Dad, with less patience continues. Like I said, "God is like the sun itself. You see the sun is this extremely hot ball of gas, and we as humans can’t get too close."

Kids, how hot is the sun?

Dad, "that’s not the point of the story."

Kids, then what is?

Dad, "The Trinity, remember?"

Kids, Oh, yeah!

Dad; "Just like we as human’s can’t get too close to the sun, because we’d get burnt up, we can’t look upon the glory of God for fear of the same fate. God’s glory shines brighter than the sun, and his love is more intense than the sun’s heat. In fact let me tell you a story about Moses, and the time he asked to meet God face to face. It is in Exodus, chapter 33, that we see this whole story come to life. Now let’s see what God said to Moses. ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But, he said, you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. Then the Lord said, there is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in the cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’ Wow, pretty exciting story, huh kids?"

Kids; did God have any clothes on?

"Allllll righty then," says dad, " how about letting me answer that particular question some other time, okay.

Dad continuing; "Now Jesus, who is God the Son, is like the sun’s light and warmth. In fact Jesus is called the light of the world. You see kids if it wasn’t for the sun’s light we would live in a world of darkness. The same thing is true about Jesus. You see, if it wasn’t for Jesus’ coming, and showing us how to live, we would be stuck in a world of darkness, a lost world with no hope and no future. In fact, they say that we humans couldn’t survive in a world without the sun’s (son’s) light and warmth.

Kids, why?

Daddy ignoring them, you see kid’s the sun never rests. As it sets on one side of the world, it rises on the other. The same thing is true about Jesus. He will never rest until all people, who where chosen by His Father, rest in His light."

Rudely interrupted by wife, getting kinda deep, isn’t it?

Dad resumes story; "yes, now where were we before being so rudely interrupted? Alllll righty then, hopefully you understand what daddy was trying to tell you about Jesus, and we can move on to God the Holy Spirit now. (Clears throat)

"Kids, did you know that the sun is a power source for us on the earth. We get all sorts of energy from the sun. With special equipment we can use the sun’s energy for electricity and heat. Not only can the sun give us energy to, let’s say run mom’s washer and dryer, but it also provides our bodies with vitamins and nutrients. Enabling us to stay healthy and strong. Well, just as the sun provides for our needs, so too does God’s Spirit. He empowers us with God’s energy, power, and keeps our bodies spiritually nourished. You see kids, the father’s glory gave us the light and warmth of Jesus, his son; and, Jesus’ light and warmth brings us the energy of the spirit.

"Well, kids, do you now have a better understand of God’s Holy Trinity?"

Kids, Oh yes daddy, we certainly do. (If we say no he’s going to go on and on, just like that little "Energizer Bunny.") And as the kids walk away they whisper, you don’t think we’ll get that way, do you? Dad, beaming from ear to ear sits back with a contented look upon his face, believing he just had a "KODAK" moment with his three loving children. Mom, smiles lovingly, because she has to as she tries not to burst her husband’s bubble, or laugh as she walks away.

In all honesty, I made that all up, but I won’t tell if you won’t. I also must admit that I heard this analogy, about comparing the Trinity to the sun, someplace else. I don’t remember where, but I also don’t believe the original author explained the analogy quite the same way. You see things have a way of getting disconcerted (thank God for Thesaurus) in the cranial vault I call a brain, but I keep trying. Aren’t you glad? Someone else also said that the last original idea ended with Socrates, and that may well be true, but I bet Socrates couldn’t explain, nor would he want to, what I just did. It takes a special person to think in such terms. Thank you Lord for making me so special!

With all kidding aside, the Trinity is a very difficult concept to grasp. It takes a lot of faith to believe something that you don’t quite understand, but your reward for that faith is great indeed. Allowing oneself to believe in this mystery makes it possible for us to remain children in God’s loving arms, and one day He will sit us down and explain this sacred mystery to us. I know He will do a much better job than I, so until that day, I pray that you will stand strong and believe. For there have been many who have fallen from grace due to an inability to just believe. The Trinity should not be a stumbling block, in your faith journey, but a building block. My advise is to try and not intellectualize God for as it say in 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God."

If I must be considered a fool for Christ, for believing in His word, then so be it, for I consider myself among a very distinguished crowd. I refuse to let human pride get in the way of eating a little humble pie every now and then. There are many things I don’t understand, of which the Trinity is one, but I’m proud of that fact. From time to time, there come instances when we just have to say I believe, and this is one of those times.

So let us close this chapter invoking God’s holy mystery, the Trinity. We pray, Lord God, that you bless us and help to increase our faith. Grant us the ability to say we believe even though we don’t understand. Strengthen our resolve, Lord, for those times when the world looks down upon us as being fools for your namesake. And as always, Lord, we close in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

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