IRVINE, CA (ANS) -- It being National Poetry month here in the Unites States (I still don’t know why we need a month designated to highlight poetry; we should always enjoy verse), I decided I should partake of a poetry reading somewhere here in Orange County, California.

Looking through the Sunday paper to find a reading, I saw that the University of Irvine was hosting the poet, Thomas Lux on Thursday, April 10th, and that Mr. Lux was reading from his newest book, God Particles.

“Hmm,” I thought. “This sounds interesting.”

Not only is it poetry (thus fulfilling my quest to find a poetry reading), but the reading may have something to say about God (thus fulfilling my interest in theology).

“Two birds with one stone,” I smiled in approval.

Fascinated by the title, God Particles, I looked up the phrase on the Internet. According to Nobel Prize winner, Leon Lederman, a God particle is the most “important (and most elusive) elementary particle in modern physics.” Apparently, scientists need to discover it so they can explain why particles have mass.

The problem is, no one has discovered it, and therefore it remains a mystery.

“Deep,” I said to myself. This poet, Mr. Lux, must have some heavy things to say about God’s mystery and the unknown universe.

Intrigued at the whole prospect, I determined I would go. So when the day came, I coxed my daughter, Sutherland, to come along with me (for one coffee drink). Incidentally, she brought C.S. Lewis’ book, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, to read.

As I walked into room 110 in the Humanities Building of the University of Irvine, I saw a classroom of about 100 chairs, all filled with people and even more students sitting on the floor.

After a cordial introduction, Mr. Lux, with shoulder length hair, glasses, jeans, and a turquoise shirt, walked up to the podium.

The first words out of his mouth were that, initially, he did not know of the connection between his title, God Particles, and the term used for physics. Apparently, he heard the phrase somewhere and wrote it in his notebook, eventually thinking it would make a great title.

“So there goes the deep understanding of the term,” I mused.

Lux began his poetry readings. He was animated, pointing, waving, and looking up when seeking greater inspiration. He even got sing-songy at times, making the poems ring as almost a melody.

The audience sat and listened, attentively.

Though Lux did not initially see a connection between the scientific term and the use of God Particles for a title, there definitely was a connection. Lux, through his poems, was struggling with a connection between the idea of God and the world’s incredible problems.

Lux’s attitude was summed up in one of his quips between poems, “I don’t have a problem with God; just with a certain type of believer.”

Largely, Lux’s poems were penetrating insights into people who say that they believe in God but act as though they don’t: belief versus action.

Riddled throughout the poems were hints and metaphors of suicide bombing, war, school shootings, and forgiveness. In the title poem, God Particles, he read,

I think He was downhearted, weary, too weary
to be angry anymore, or vengeful,
or even forgiving, and He wanted each of us
and all the things we touch
and are touched by,
to have a tiny piece of Him,
though we are unqualified
for even the crumb of a crumb.

Lux’s idea of God is that God is tired of humanity’s foibles and problems. The poem actually starts off with God’s explosion, the need to shed Himself of the pain of humanity, but only to share Himself with people throughout the world; hence the name, God Particles.

Over the course of the 45-minute reading, Lux went through poems laced with sarcasm, horror, fear, disbelief, and quarrels with God. Lux stated that most of the poems were “inspired by many events occurring today,” addressing the violence and problems in our modern world.

Though I didn’t agree with many of Lux’s premises (his idea of God as weak and tired), I did, however, find his challenge of belief versus action, riveting: why do people who say they passionately believe in God, act, as they don’t?

As Christians we are called to be salt and light, reflecting the goodness and love of God, ultimately bringing this life-affirming message of the Gospel to the world.

But we fall short. And sadly, the watching world sees this; hence, Lux’s insights on the “believer’s” actions are penetrating. Yet, what Lux seems to overlook is that all people, believers and non-believer’s act with hatred, violence, lust, and other such qualities; hence our need for intervention from God in Christ.

True, Lux’s challenge got me thinking: what is a Christian to do in the face of a watching world? I think the words of the writer of II Chronicles says it well: “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (7:14).

This text was written in the time Solomon was dedicating the temple, during which time God come to Solomon revealing that He has heard his prayers. It is a powerful reminder of God’s desires for His people.

You notice five key words: called, humble, pray, seek, and turn. As the Jews of old, we, as Christian’s, would do well to remember the meaning and implementation of these words: recognizing our call of loving God and other people; humbly approaching people with grace and kindness; praying to God for direction and guidance; seeking God for insight and truth; and turning from wicked ways, towards the God who will heal and restore.

Beautiful words!

And though I didn’t always agree with all of Lux’s poems, I did walk away from the night with three thoughts:

1. Thanks, Mr. Lux, for the mirror to look at ourselves as human beings;

2. Thanks, Mr. Lux, for helping me turn to God’s thoughts on how we should act as believer’s; the real God Particles;

3. And thanks, Mr. Lux, for the night with my daughter. As she grows, precious are the times I can watch her in green shirt, blue hat, and face of wonder as she reads, sitting on the floor, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, soaking in an atmosphere of words, the particles of common grace, given to us this night.

Brian Nixon is a pastor, writer, musician, and family man. He currently resides in Costa Mesa, California.