I do not believe that God is in control, and I think the evidence is clear. I do not believe that our lives are laid out before we are born; that cannot be true if God has given us free will. I do believe that God is present in the world; watching, waiting – maybe even nudging or whispering, like the still, small voice Elijah heard as he waited for God to speak. The UCC motto – God is Still Speaking – is, for me, a beautiful reminder that we continue to have a covenant with the Almighty. If God is still speaking, that means that there should be someone listening, and if we are listening, we should be discerning and doing what God needs. We won’t get it completely right, but we also won’t be completely wrong; unless, that is, we pervert God’s needs into our own selfish version.
About 30 years ago I began to ponder what it might mean if, instead of me being the only one doing the talking in worship, I invited others to speak about how they have seen God in their lives and in the world. These sightings can be as simple as the first Robin in spring or as complicated as the amazing skills of a surgeon saving someone’s life. Jesus told His disciples that God cared for the sparrows, so why wouldn’t God care for them? The Holy Spirit seems chaotic to people in the Christian Scriptures, whisking them away at a moment’s notice, like Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch. Some people express the Spirit by speaking in tongues, while others, like John Wesley, are strangely warmed by Her. The experience of the Holy Spirit, like the gifts of the Spirit, are diverse and surprising, but all appreciated by God equally.
I see the Spirit every day in random acts of kindness, purposeful good works, and everything in between. When I ask my congregation every Sunday morning to tell us where they have seen the Spirit at work, there is sometimes silence. Most Sundays, though, someone has something to say. When nobody speaks, I think the problem isn’t that God isn’t speaking; I think we are often too busy to notice. If we take the time, we might be surprised at how often God is doing something new in the world. The media usually reports on the bad, unethical, and immoral things that so-called followers of God are doing; that grabs eyeballs, after all. I don’t think those acts are from God at all; they are a perversion of our Creator’s needs. They are people using God instead of letting God use them.
How have you seen the Spirit at work? If you let me know, I will put them in a future Today’s Thought (anonymously, if you ask). This kind of witnessing can help to counteract the evil being done in God’s name in powerful and moving ways. Seeing God at work through God’s people can cause a ripple effect; this is what paying it forward is all about. I invite – no, I double-dog dare you – to listen for the voice of God and see the Spirit at work. Then, share it with me – or in your congregation – or with your pet. It’s all good.
Prayer – Holy God, we invite Your Holy Spirit to shine Her light on us this day. Amen.
Today’s art is “Holy Spirit” by Colleen Shay.