God-Sightings

So my friend and roommate, Julie, and I went to the mall. When we were there, we went for frozen yogurt at Cherry on Top. It's one of those self-serve places-- "Endless Possibilities." LOVE it. Anyway, on the right sleeve of their workers' shirts it says "Eph 1:11." Julie asked a worker if their shirts said Ephesians 1:11. YES, she said! She didn't say it that enthusiastically, but we were pretty excited. AND, it's a verse about God's plans.

Julie said, "You and I would end up at a ice cream place with a verse about God's plans." Julie's favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, and I'm also encouraged by knowing God has plans for us. I've been learning a lot about God's plans this summer. Not what they are, mind you. Ha, no. But I'm learning that they are better than our plans. And not always the same as our plans. I'm learning they'll work out in his time. Anyway, that's another topic for another day... The point here is that it was a reinforcement. And besides that... Seeing God in a frozen yogurt shoppe... It was a God-sighting. Not physically. I didn't have some sort of movie-Morgan Freeman experience.

Rather, God-sightings are when you see him manifested in his creation, when you see him at work. We've been talking about them at VBS this summer. Here are two examples given by our lovely leader: 1. Metamorphosis.  Caterpillars start out one way and through a thorough process are transformed into beautiful butterflies. 2. Sharing. She told a story of a girl who left her bikes out during the day so that kids who didn't have bikes could ride them.

Often when something is said about seeing God in his creation, what is meant is nature. Remember--God created US. And that's a different kind of beauty, seeing God in his creatures who have souls (or are souls). In his creatures with souls, and words, and relationships. It does my heart and my walk good to see him in words and relationships. It warms me and encourages me.

I have a tendency (as I'm sure most people do) to feel a kinship with others with whom I share something in common. As C. S. Lewis said, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one." I felt a kinship with the owners of Cherry on Top, though I had never met them. And knowing that others are starting businesses and through them witnessing, just warms my heart and encourages my soul and walk. It's a God-sighting.

As we say to the kids at VBS... Watch for God. :)