Furthermore…

I’ve seen some lists of the names of God, drawn from scripture I guess. The other day I came across a mention of “what God is expecting of us” and it struck me that ‘God the Expecting’ is an evocative title, even though it doesn’t have pedigree or provenance. Maybe one of my acquaintances who knows Hebrew will one day be able to express the title in that language for me, giving it a patina of authenticity.

Encountering a set of expectations, maybe a printed list or a placard on the wall is not a foreign concept to most grownups, especially those who have been married, gone to college, or joined an organized society. Like those of a spouse, God’s expectations might have to be intuited, although many have been clearly spelled out for us. A spouse might go around frowning or acting distant because certain expectations are not being met. In rare cases, the situation might be addressed explicitly, but that involves adopting the methods used in a college dorm — NO LOUD MUSIC AFTER 11 PM, ALL PAYMENTS DUE IN ADVANCE, or a playground — NO DOGS, NO RUNNING, NO SPITTING, etc.

God’s might list of expectations might include NO IGNORING ME, NO GETTING WRAPPED UP IN YOUR OWN THOUGHTS, NO PRIDE and, more positively, develop your love, faith, stewardship, appreciation, kindness, thankfulness and so much more. May the day never come when God says, judgmentally: “Sorry, you didn’t meet My Expectations!”