Continuing our Creativity & Spirituality series…
Seeing the Divine, takes time.
In Exodus, after wandering the dessert for forty-years, it describes Moses seeing something there he had not ever seen before. He encounters a bush that did not seem to ‘burn up’.
As Moses approaches he discovers God calling out to him from within the bush saying “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5)
How long had Moses walked through that piece of land, never realizing that it was holy?
Or the better question might be, how long had Moses been staring at that bush to realize that it was not burning up? That it wasn’t some minor forest fire, but that there was something mystical occurring?
In the book of Mark it describes a centurion standing in front of Jesus upon the cross, hearing him cry, and watching him die. After which he comes to the realization that “Surely this man was the son of God!” (Mark 15:39).
The same question applies. How long was the centurion gazing at the cross, before he realized that he was seeing God?
Could it be that God is closer than we think?
If only we took the time to really look?
The Scriptures describe this man named Jacob who after reflecting on a dream and discovers, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Genesis 28:17).
In our Creativity & Spirituality gatherings, one of our assignments was to take a digital photo or find a photo of something or somewhere we saw a glimpse God in someway.
You may find it valuable to read(reread) Tozer’s Pursuit of God (especially chapter 5) in regards to this point. He has some excellent thoughts about how we need to embrace the concept of a God who is always present.
I’ve asked myself in many places where I can see God. From the coasts of California to Dallas to Chicago to the coasts of Jersey there is always something of God. Often for me it’s in the natural life around me (as Tozer references and Paul did before him), but sometimes (as in Chicago or Dallas) there is precious little green. It’s in those times I was forced to recognize God in the lives of people around me as you mention here.
I have a hunch that if we’re making a habit of constantly looking we’ll start to see more clearly with less effort over time.
Parke, I’ve read pursuit of God years ago, but I have next to no recollection of it. I’ll definitely check it out again.
I feel the same way about nature, it’s so fantastic, yet sometimes it seems like there’s so little of it around me. I think it’ll be an entire lifetime of developing the eyes to see God everywhere.
Now that I think about it, i feel that there are certain realms that I ‘see’ God quite well in… music, movies, personal experiences and struggles… yet what you mention about people is interesting. maybe that should be where we see God best… afterall we’re created in His image… if only we weren’t such messy creatures as well.