In His Glorious Face

Once upon a time I was a little girl.
Very little.
Five.
It was a Sunday night.
We were at Church.
That's were it usually happens.
At Church.
Even at a young age.

I don't remember much.
The sermon, the people, the songs.
All I remember is when we went to pray...
To talk, I knew, with God.
Every head bowed to pray.
Like always.
It's just what you do.
But I didn't.
Not that night.

I paused.
I thought for a bit.
I turned my head up towards the ceiling, my eyes opened wide and searching.
My mother looked over and said a hasty "bow your head".
I obeyed.
But still I thought...at five I puzzled...

Why do we look down?
Why do we close our eyes?
When I'm talking to God I want to look up, into His face.
I want to see if He's looking and listening back.
How can you talk to someone if you don't look them in the eye?
Does He like that when we turn our face away and close our eyes and murmur?

The prayer ended.
But still I thought.
Why don't we let God see our face?

Are we afraid?

 

Author's Note

Actual thoughts I had at age five...

Reviews

[Barbara Lynne]

beautiful write, wonderful question...when I pray I tilt my head up, toward the heavens to God but I do most often keep my eyes closed...when I bow my head it is in reverence to God to honor Him as I humbly pray to Him...lovely...just lovely

[Anne Shirley]

when i was child I remember wondering how God really looks like, and if he truly listen to our prayers.
But now I think I know the answer; He does listen to our prayers. But what I haven't figured out is how He looks like....

[Stephanie Boling]

I remember asking this exact question to my mom when I was younger. This story reminds me how awesomely innocent children are, and how we can learn a lot from them, question the traditions we've been raised with. Very good.

[Flo_writer]

Wow I don't remember when I was five but that Is a very Interesting question. You got me thinking about It now because It makes so much sense. Why don't we look up at god when praying? I guess because bowing is a sign of homage, and It's a respectful way to show respect to god. Very well done.