What does God look like?

A friend made a comment as we were reminiscing about when "I found God". It's been stuck in my head for a while now. No I haven't been brooding over this like some offended child, I've been thinking about how we all come to meet God in our own way.

I found God but I'm sure He's different from the one you found. The world is filled with faithful followers of many different deities and dogmas. But it is also filled with many who adamantly deny ANY religious belief.

Isn't that a religious belief? That there is no supreme being, no master plan. This mortal existence is all that we have so make the most of it.

So what does God look like to you? I am reminded of a song I heard every year around Christmas about how "..some children see him blonde and fair...some children see him bronze..." So, how does he look to you? Or She for that matter. I will try to keep it neutral but yes, I believe in a Heavenly Father, Eloi, Elohim, etc. This should explain my use of the male pronouns. It in no way is to belittle your faith.

My faith is very important to me as I am sure yours is to you. If it wasn't that important we would have a lot less violence in the world I do recognize that. My faith is one of peace but I reserve the right to defend the freedom to worship as I wish. I also reserve the right to defend yours as well. The trick comes when my freedom to worship/believe offends you and vice-versa.

In the political arena, we have many hot button issues that have people on all sides of the issue fired up and ready to fight, call names, even turn to violence. I shouldn't be surprised but when it comes to publicizing names of who supported what and who made financial contributions, etc haven't we really gone a bit overboard?

By publicizing these facts we seem to be inviting the fringe elements of every twisted variety to act against those spotlighted. In my mind, this IS terrorism. A psychological operation at the grass roots level. When we fear to voice our opinion we have lost our truest freedom. To be heard and our position considered.

In other words, just because God looks different to you doesn't mean how I treat you should change. I believe we are descended of the same Heavenly Father so how can I not have an interest in you as a person? It is only when one tries to take advantage of my tolerance that I become defensive (or offensive as your view may find it) and we begin to have an issue.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It should come as no surprise that I am a staunch supporter of traditional marriage, of the sanctity of life which puts me at odds with abortion, of moral and ethical behavior in all aspects of our life. So does this label me as one of THEM. In contrast, I do not support the same behavior from those whose belief aligns them with my cause(s). Politics make strange bedfellows indeed but I do not wish anyone to fear differing in their views for fear of reprisal. As long as they allow me the same opportunity to differ in my opinion without fear of the same.

So, what does God look like to you?