Two Giant Fat People

Two Giant Fat People (by Hafiz)

God and I have become
Like two giant fat people
Living in a tiny boat.

We keep
Bumping into each other
And laughing.

Forgive me for being so politically incorrect by sharing this poem here.  Perhaps Hafiz could have been a bit more diplomatic by saying “overweight” instead of fat.  But nonetheless, I love the spiritual principle of this poem.  This is the first poem I read by Hafiz.  When I picked up a book of poems and read this, I was immediately intrigued,  discovered a spiritual guide in Hafiz and have been enjoying his poetry ever since.

I love the idea of bumping into God throughout my life, throughout my day and moment by moment.  Never quite knowing just exactly how God will show up, but knowing he will – surprising me and “bumping into me.”  And the result?  Laugher, delight and wonder.  The closeness of the relationship, the familiarity, the delight in each other that makes us laugh.  Why?  Because we enjoy one another’s company.  Have you ever thought about that?  That God enjoys your company and enjoys you?

God’s closeness?  Some may wonder, “Is that a threat or a promise?”  With a false image of God – a God of anger and judgment, it’s a threat and we feel fear.  But with the true God, the real reality, it’s a promise.  A promise of delight, a promise of love, a promise of laughter.  The adventure of living with God.  The adventure of finding God everywhere in everyone and every place and at every time, even in myself and whatever circumstance I’m encountering.  It kind of makes all life holy doesn’t it?

For God is always seeking up on me. “Wa La!”  “Poof!”  and “Surprise!” There God is!  (By the way “poof” and “wa la” are spiritual words, aren’t they?)  What a delightful way to live.  This also reminds me of a song by one of my favorite artists – Charlie Peacock called “Sneakin Up on Me.”

Lyrics:  Sneaking Up On Me

I try to run, find a place to hide – it’s a futile plan,
Don’t know when, I don’t know how, but God always gets his man.

Sneaking up on me,
God keeps sneaking up on me,
When I least expect it, there he is,
Sneaking up on me.

Sin and shame are a dangerous pair, makes you wanna play hide and sneak,
Twin thieves from a foolish mother, they live to steal the peace I seek.

God won’t let me get too far away; he’ll come to my rescue,
And I will say to him, “Lord, if I must hide, then let me hide myself in you.”

Sneaking up on me,
God keeps sneaking up on me,
When I least expect it, there he is,
Sneaking up on me,
Sneaking up on me,
Sneaking up on me,
And when I least expect it, there he is,
Sneaking up on me.

I know that I belong to him; he seeks out those he loves,
Because of the cost, I will not be lost…and that’s a good thing to know.

Sneaking up on me,
God keeps sneaking up on me,
When I least expect it, there he is,
Sneaking up on me,
Sneaking up on me,
Sneaking up on me,
When I least expect it, there he is,
Sneaking up on me.

He might catch me here, might catch me there, (sneaking up on me)
Might catch me running most anywhere,
Might draw me in, might draw me out, (sneaking up on me)
Might whisper to me, might have to shout,
Might catch me here, might catch me there,
Might catch me running most anywhere, but he’ll be sneaking up on me.

Sneaking up on me,
God keeps sneaking up on me,
When I least expect it, there he is,
Sneaking up on me.