In
these parts here, we’ve been talking about seeing.
Now,
not the physical seeing, but the spiritual seeing.
It
began with a question from a teacher regarding God’s breaking into our natural
world. “Do you see it?” she asked emphatically.
Then
that same week as I was doing a study by Carolyn Moore, who we know because she and Jerry attended seminary together, I came
across another message on this topic.
The
study, Supernatural includes a story about how God helped her become more
sensitive to His working around her by watching. She writes, “When I watched
for the kingdom of God to be exposed, I saw the kingdom of God exposed.”
She
includes a quote I love from Thomas Merton, “I have no program for this seeing.
It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.”
She
concludes with this, “Spiritual eyesight is something we must pursue.”
For
sure. And sometimes we must do away with our preconceived notions of how God
will show up, because it is often in an unexpected way.
That
question my teacher asked echoes the one in Isaiah 43:19, “Forget about what’s
happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to
do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is ! I’m making
a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands” (The Message).
I imagine,
you’re like me, and also have metaphorical deserts and badlands through which you
need God to make roads and rivers. Folks, as Merton said, the gate of heaven is
everywhere. I want my spiritual eyes to be on alert for all the ways God is
showing up around me.
Let’s not miss any of it. Open our eyes, Lord!