The Eyes Of Faith

There’s nothing like singing and worshipping the Lord with over 35,000 people in an enormous stadium. The sound, the lights, and the energy vibrate into your soul and raise you up out of yourself to connect with God and God’s people. Such was our daily experience at the 2012 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Our St. John’s group of 13 gave our whole selves to this weeklong adventure of practicing discipleship, justice, and peacemaking.

Each night in New Orleans our group gathered for a time of devotions when we read scripture, prayed, and reflected on our day. We began with sharing the high and low points from our last 24 hours, and then we challenged each other to speak about God’s involvement in our day. “Where did you see God today?”Our thoughtful responses were as varied as God’s work is. One day our group saw God in the joyful faces of neighborhood children as we played baseball together. We heard God in the inspiring stories of preachers giving testimony to God’s far-reaching embrace. We saw God in our teamwork as we painted the public restrooms in a local city park.

I saw God in our youth as we participated in the 100 Wells Challenge, a clean water simulation. Each of us carried 40-pound jugs of water for one-tenth of a mile. We learned that one in seven people still do not have access to safe drinking water and more than half of the diseases in the world are caused by unclean water.After lugging the water, we pooled together over $200 to donate to building water wells in Africa. Our youth gave freely and joyfully. As we walked away, I heard them saying, “That felt good!” I was proud. Joy and generosity are the work of our God.

When have you seen and experienced God lately? What in your life is beautiful and kind? When have you felt peace, comfort, healing? As people who trust Jesus as their risen and living Lord, we believe that God is here with us and active in our lives. God is at loose in the world in ways we often fail to see. Our faith equips us with the eyes to look for God in the highs and lows of our days.

Yes, even in the lows, we see God. The movie theater shooting in Aurora, CO, occurred while we were in New Orleans, and in worship we prayed for all those affected, including the shooter. Where was God in that theater? Before we respond to that question, it’s essential that we grieve for this tragedy and those killed and wounded. Our faith does not compel us to overlook the bad nor to jump to find silver linings. We are rightfully upset and horrified. Yet we remember that our God knows about tragedy from firsthand experience. God is found also on the cross, in death and grief, confronting evil.

With the eyes of faith we dare to see God’s work amidst this tragedy…in the courage of people who shielded others and protected them from the bullets. In the mercy of the shooter’s jammed semi-automatic assault rifle that surely could have killed countless more people. In the healing response of police, paramedics, and medical professionals. In the miracle recovery of Petra Anderson, a young woman shot in the brain. In the generosity of Colorado hospitals that will cap or cover medical expenses for victims. Where was God in that midnight hour? Active and with us, as always.

Where did you see God today? We’ll ask our children this question during the week of Vacation Bible School, August 6-10. Each day we’ll share our “God-Sightings.” You might ask yourselves that same question during a quiet, reflective moment in your days. As we see the work of God in our lives, we come to trust this God who is active in the world in more ways than we can imagine, raising us up each day to new life.

Learning to see,

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see you. I want to see you.” (Song lyrics by Paul Baloche)