God is everywhere all the time. He is all knowing and the creator of all. However, what role does God play? In a parable in Luke 11:5-8, God is described as a neighbor. God is described similarly in the poem “You, Neighbor God” by Rainer Maria Rilke. These writings show God in similar, but different ways. Today, many people know God is a neighbor that is there when needed; but, he is also much more than that.
Neighbors are more often than not great people. They can keep an eye on things while a person is out of town, and lend a helping hand if need be. Neighbors, however, do not typically have very personal relationships. They see each other and give a friendly wave and then continue on with their day. In the Rilke poem, the neighbor is portrayed …show more content…
This first part of the poem gives much insight into the way the narrator envisions God. They believe that God is all alone. They are saying that because God is so much mightier and more important than them, God is not truly with them. The narrator says that at night they cry out because they want to hear from God and they realize he is alone. The narrator continues on and says, “Always, I hearken. Give but a small sign. I am quite near” (Rilke 527). Here they show how they are asking God to just give them a sign that he is around. This displays their view that God is not with them, or anybody for that matter. This is the narrator showing his efforts to get closer to God; although they do not believe they are getting closer. In the middle of the poem, the narrator says, “Between us there is but a narrow wall, and by sheer chance; for it would take merely a call from your lips or from mine to break it down” (Rilke 527). This gives an image of a barrier between the narrator and God. It again backs up the claim that God is all alone. This is the narrator showing their view that all it would take is a connection to break the barrier between themselves and God. The narrator ends the poem by saying, “And then my senses, which too soon grow lame, exiled from you must go …show more content…
Jesus’ purpose is to show how God works and show how people should approach God. The book of Luke starts this passage by saying, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.”” (Luke 11:5-6 NIV). This is what Jesus uses as an example to show how people go to God with their problems. People come to God to ask him for help in times of need. However, Jesus goes on to say it takes more than just asking. The Bible
Neighbors are more often than not great people. They can keep an eye on things while a person is out of town, and lend a helping hand if need be. Neighbors, however, do not typically have very personal relationships. They see each other and give a friendly wave and then continue on with their day. In the Rilke poem, the neighbor is portrayed …show more content…
This first part of the poem gives much insight into the way the narrator envisions God. They believe that God is all alone. They are saying that because God is so much mightier and more important than them, God is not truly with them. The narrator says that at night they cry out because they want to hear from God and they realize he is alone. The narrator continues on and says, “Always, I hearken. Give but a small sign. I am quite near” (Rilke 527). Here they show how they are asking God to just give them a sign that he is around. This displays their view that God is not with them, or anybody for that matter. This is the narrator showing his efforts to get closer to God; although they do not believe they are getting closer. In the middle of the poem, the narrator says, “Between us there is but a narrow wall, and by sheer chance; for it would take merely a call from your lips or from mine to break it down” (Rilke 527). This gives an image of a barrier between the narrator and God. It again backs up the claim that God is all alone. This is the narrator showing their view that all it would take is a connection to break the barrier between themselves and God. The narrator ends the poem by saying, “And then my senses, which too soon grow lame, exiled from you must go …show more content…
Jesus’ purpose is to show how God works and show how people should approach God. The book of Luke starts this passage by saying, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.”” (Luke 11:5-6 NIV). This is what Jesus uses as an example to show how people go to God with their problems. People come to God to ask him for help in times of need. However, Jesus goes on to say it takes more than just asking. The Bible