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Trinity
One
God the Creator
It was the second day of Christmas, and, even though his coming warmed our hearts, it was very cold outside. The fire in the fireplace I built not only for atmosphere but to warm the chill inside. Sitting before the fire, I soon became mesmerized by the darting flames burning brilliantly, though soon the intense heat forced me to move farther back for comfort. Staring at the flames, I noticed how they not only warmed the room but cast their luminous spell all across the foyer.
I was immediately reminded of God. There was the fire, and the light that comes from the fire, casting its mystic glow throughout the room, and the warmth that comes from the fire through the flames, warming every object around it. Yet the flames were not the fire, nor was the heat the flames. The three were distinct, but they were inseparable, save for how they each affected me. The light and the heat touched me immediately. The source of the fire was present but could not be seen.
My memory wandered back many years, to one evening when I was baby-sitting my lawyer's children, Joe, John, and Peter. Richard and Elizabeth Della Ratta had asked me to mind the boys until they returned. At bedtime, as I tucked in the little ones, Peter said to me, "Fahd, I have a problem with God."
"Pete, you're only six years old. How can you have a problem with God?"
"But, I do, Fahd."
"How come you only have problems when you're going to bed?"
"It's the only time I have to talk to you."
"Okay, Pete, what's this big problem you have with God?"
"Fahd, when you tell me about God, you talk about God as our Father, and you talk about Jesus, and you also talk about . . . the . . . you know, the other guy."
"The Holy Spirit."
"That's right. Now, you talk about these three people, and you tell me there is only one God. If there are three of them, how can there be only one God?"
"Pete, God is not like us humans. God's nature is different. See that lamp there? There is the bulb, there is the light coming from the bulb, and there is heat coming through the light from the bulb. They are all different, but you can't separate them. They're all together as one. That is something like what God is like."
"But, Fahd, God doesn't work on electricity."
"Pete, why don't you just close your eyes and think about it? I'm sure it will put you right to sleep."
As I went back downstairs I thought, "How young we are when we begin to question about God. We humans are born philosophers, with a thirst to understand our existence. I suppose once we experience the vastness of the world and all the complicated beings in it, it is only a simple next step to ask ourselves where it all came from, and who made it, and then the whole train of questions that logically follow.
Now as I sit before the fire in my study, my mind wanders back to Moses and his experience with the burning bush, the bush that burned but was not consumed. I am sure the voice he heard that day haunted him all his life. "Moses, come no closer! Take off your shoes, for the ground on which you stand is holy ground! I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
God then goes o
God the Creator
It was the second day of Christmas, and, even though his coming warmed our hearts, it was very cold outside. The fire in the fireplace I built not only for atmosphere but to warm the chill inside. Sitting before the fire, I soon became mesmerized by the darting flames burning brilliantly, though soon the intense heat forced me to move farther back for comfort. Staring at the flames, I noticed how they not only warmed the room but cast their luminous spell all across the foyer.
I was immediately reminded of God. There was the fire, and the light that comes from the fire, casting its mystic glow throughout the room, and the warmth that comes from the fire through the flames, warming every object around it. Yet the flames were not the fire, nor was the heat the flames. The three were distinct, but they were inseparable, save for how they each affected me. The light and the heat touched me immediately. The source of the fire was present but could not be seen.
My memory wandered back many years, to one evening when I was baby-sitting my lawyer's children, Joe, John, and Peter. Richard and Elizabeth Della Ratta had asked me to mind the boys until they returned. At bedtime, as I tucked in the little ones, Peter said to me, "Fahd, I have a problem with God."
"Pete, you're only six years old. How can you have a problem with God?"
"But, I do, Fahd."
"How come you only have problems when you're going to bed?"
"It's the only time I have to talk to you."
"Okay, Pete, what's this big problem you have with God?"
"Fahd, when you tell me about God, you talk about God as our Father, and you talk about Jesus, and you also talk about . . . the . . . you know, the other guy."
"The Holy Spirit."
"That's right. Now, you talk about these three people, and you tell me there is only one God. If there are three of them, how can there be only one God?"
"Pete, God is not like us humans. God's nature is different. See that lamp there? There is the bulb, there is the light coming from the bulb, and there is heat coming through the light from the bulb. They are all different, but you can't separate them. They're all together as one. That is something like what God is like."
"But, Fahd, God doesn't work on electricity."
"Pete, why don't you just close your eyes and think about it? I'm sure it will put you right to sleep."
As I went back downstairs I thought, "How young we are when we begin to question about God. We humans are born philosophers, with a thirst to understand our existence. I suppose once we experience the vastness of the world and all the complicated beings in it, it is only a simple next step to ask ourselves where it all came from, and who made it, and then the whole train of questions that logically follow.
Now as I sit before the fire in my study, my mind wanders back to Moses and his experience with the burning bush, the bush that burned but was not consumed. I am sure the voice he heard that day haunted him all his life. "Moses, come no closer! Take off your shoes, for the ground on which you stand is holy ground! I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."
God then goes o
ebook
First published January 1, 2002
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63 people want to read
About the author
Joseph F. Girzone
76 books113 followersFROM PUBLISHER:
JOSEPH F. GIRZONE retired from the active priesthood in 1981 due to health reasons, and embarked on a second career as a writer and speaker.
In 1995 he established the Joshua Foundation, an organization dedicated to making Jesus better known throughout the world.
His bestselling books include Joshua, A Portrait of Jesus, and Never Alone. He lives in Altamont, New York.
JOSEPH F. GIRZONE retired from the active priesthood in 1981 due to health reasons, and embarked on a second career as a writer and speaker.
In 1995 he established the Joshua Foundation, an organization dedicated to making Jesus better known throughout the world.
His bestselling books include Joshua, A Portrait of Jesus, and Never Alone. He lives in Altamont, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 8, 2009
The concept of the Trinity has always been a difficult one for me to grasp. I like the way Grizone explains it. It’s simple, but makes a point.
"See that lamp there? There is the bulb, there is the light coming from the bulb, and there is heat coming through the light from the bulb.They are all different, but you can’t separate them. They’re all together as one. That is something like what God is like." (pg. 3)
Girzone discusses the Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the church and the life of the individual, and God’s amazing love for us. The other part that made me take note was the section on meditational reading of the Gospels. I think with a little discpline, I could and should make that a daily habit.
I think the section on church history was too brief, more of a quick overview. Girzone mentions many saints and other church leaders, but so quickly that I don’t even remember who they were or what made them notable in this context. Of course, the book was short, only 128 pages long, which does make it very accessible, but only allows for a brief exploration.
Overall, not a great book, but good. I think I did gain a little more understanding of the Trinity, but I still have quite a ways to go.
"See that lamp there? There is the bulb, there is the light coming from the bulb, and there is heat coming through the light from the bulb.They are all different, but you can’t separate them. They’re all together as one. That is something like what God is like." (pg. 3)
Girzone discusses the Trinity, especially the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of the church and the life of the individual, and God’s amazing love for us. The other part that made me take note was the section on meditational reading of the Gospels. I think with a little discpline, I could and should make that a daily habit.
I think the section on church history was too brief, more of a quick overview. Girzone mentions many saints and other church leaders, but so quickly that I don’t even remember who they were or what made them notable in this context. Of course, the book was short, only 128 pages long, which does make it very accessible, but only allows for a brief exploration.
Overall, not a great book, but good. I think I did gain a little more understanding of the Trinity, but I still have quite a ways to go.
July 11, 2025
I was looking around to find a book on the Holy Spirit and found this book in my library. It did give me insight into the Holy Spirit plus explained some of heresies and other background of the Church and showed how the Holy Spirit has been at work throughout the ages. It pointed out that Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit; it was never mentioned before him. In the end of the book it talks about Scripture meditation to become closer to God through the Gospels about Jesus. The author, a priest, also explains that as we become closer to God, we experience dark periods where God seems far away, testing if our faith is genuine. This book was very helpful and insightful- just what I needed now.
May 27, 2008
BORING!!!!!!
March 2, 2009
An excellent book on the Holy Spirit!!!
March 27, 2016
The trinity remains a mystery, but less so after reading this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews