This past Sunday I ask the question, "Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?" in response to the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:7-8.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The promise to be pure in heart is to see God. I do not think that promise only comes in death, I think we realize that promise each day. I believe when we ask and respond to this question open and honestly we open our mind, our body, and our souls up to seeing God here among us. These moments of God's work may be so big we can't miss them and they may be, in our minds, so small that they were right in front of us and we still missed them.
I asked the congregation to share their stories with me of where they have seen God at work this week. I would be remiss if I didn't lead by example.
The easy answer to this question of where I have seen God at work is how well our transition has been in moving to Montana. The people of Brady, Choteau, and Dutton have welcomed us with open arms and have bent over backward to make sure we have everything we need. My clergy Colleagues have reached out made sure I know that I am welcome. Mikel and I are truly grateful for all of this.
I want to search into the depths of this question. Where have I missed God at work in my life? Where was God right in front of me and I missed it? I think it has been with my kids. They have been absolutely amazing through this move to Montana. From the word go there have been minimal tears and yearnings to go back "home". All three have been excited about the new adventure. Zoe and Noah started school last week and have made friends and feel like they belong. Ryann starts preschool today and she is excited to be a "big girl". This something is so easily taken for granted because our transitions in the past have not always been smooth. Zoe started the fifth grade in what will be her fourth elementary school. Noah started the second grade in his third elementary school.
Zoe and Noah continue to teach me what faith and peace look like. I say that knowing full well there have been tears and questions, and restless nights worrying about a new school in a new town. Each day they wake up ready to walk to school and see their new friends and sharing with me what they are excited about for that day. Today, Noah was excited about playing Skylanders at recess with his friends and Zoe was excited to go to band because she wants to play the French horn. More often than not they share something they are excited about rather than what they are nervous or scared about. I believe this is God at work in their lives answering their (and our) prayers for peace.
It is these moments that pass right in front of me that I often miss. God's peace is at work in my kids and too often I miss the lessons they have for me. My prayer is that I hope to see more of these moments than I miss. I pray I am able to focus on what excites about my day and not what makes me nervous or scared.
So, again, I ask you "Where do you see God at work in your life today"?
"Love, Pray, Give, & Rejoice!"
Pastor Zach