Something greater...

July 26, 2009

You just never know. You just never know how everyday events come together and help you realize something greater is at work here.

Sometimes the challenge is to be open to this realization. Even if you are like me and you delve into religious studies, liturgy, theology, spirituality, exegesis and hermeneutics, you better be present for the everyday events too. For it is in the everyday, the seemingly small normal stuff that comprises most of our days and weeks that miracles happen, that Jesus is present, where God does some of His best work.

Just this week I watched God at work in my everyday life and it happened in so many different ways. To hear a little girl say momma with total love and trust with eyes fixed on her mom and hands outstretched means something greater is at work here. To experience a loving married couple share with me the love they have for the child they adopted I know something greater is at work here. To join together with a bunch of great friends who just don’t get together as often as we used to, and it’s just like old times, something greater is at work here. When a co-worker sincerely shares a kind word of encouragement with one who missed out on a possible job promotion, something greater is at work here.

How much more can I go on? When a group of guys living their days in prison thank-you over and over again for just visiting with them you realize something greater is at work here. When almost a hundred young people choose to spend their Thursday night in fellowship and explore the role faith plays in their lives, something greater is at work here. When a sweet lady with so much on her mind chases you down to let you know her husband, who you once helped on his road back to God, has died, because she thought you should know, something greater is at work here. When another young couple can so clearly share the love they have for their beautiful son and the son who will arrive any week now, something greater is at work here.

When dear friends come to your rescue because you are loosing your battle with the growing grass, and they are full of joy as they do it, something greater is at work here. When the travel plans of your son opens a window for a short one hour visit at the airport, even if you have to drive two hours roundtrip to see him, something greater is at work here.

And you end your day where God asks you to be; in church, worshipping with others and hearing His word and we read the story from John of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, something greater is at work here. He multiplied food, and all ate and had their fill. Not such an ordinary event. But this miracle is still present for all of us today; in the ordinary and not so ordinary! Jesus demonstrates His love and friendship for those gathered on the hill and hungry. In all these amazing events of my past week that I have shared with you, Jesus feeds me too. And Jesus comes to you, in the everyday, in the simple and not so simple to feed you too. He alone feeds our hungry hearts; He alone provides for our every need; He alone is the source of our joy. He is the something, the someone that is greater and at work here, in our everyday lives.

Live everyday in joy and happiness! Take a few minutes everyday to be aware of His presence in the normal simple stuff. And when the extraordinary happens; thank Him all the more!

Be present for all the works God is doing in your life; be aware that Jesus is present in your every day. And when you witness a small miracle of love, smile and say to yourself, something greater is at work here!

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever!
Deacon Mike.