What to do when you miss The BIG Event
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
—Isaiah 43:19
Maybe watching whales splashing in the ocean isn’t your thing (though why you wouldn’t WANT to hop on a boat and watch these spectacular God-given beauties is BEYOND me), but whale lover or not, imagine you’ve always wanted to take a whale watching tour.
Imagining can be easy because you can read enticements like the one I pulled off of a website for you.
Whether you’re looking to get out on the water for hour in hopes of fulfilling a lifelong dream to see whales in their natural habitat among giant swordfish and playful dolphins, or you want a scenic tour that will educate you about the marine culture along the coast, our Whale Watch tours are sure to impress.
Now this isn’t hard to imagine, either. You’ve been on a boat for four hours and have been cold for three-and-a-half hours because you ignored the practical side of you that had said, “Wear a warmer coat.” You’re behind the glass on the lower level, which is something you didn’t want to do, but, remember, you’re cold and a little cranky because your snack is still in your car. You’re facing Starboard and the only—literally the only—whale siting the entire time you are out there is a quick, one-time blip on the Port side.
You missed it.
We can feel that way with what God is doing in the world today. We miss it. We may be close, but it happens to someone else. We may be on the boat (on the journey) but we were facing the other direction, and God’s greatness—this awesome faith-awakening experience—happened to someone else.
What do you do when you miss The Big Event? Remember what the prophet here is saying. God has already begun. You can’t miss these God moments because they are happening all the time.
Some wait—or forever seek—the spectacular church service, the one where Jesus Himself is the guest preacher that day. They search for that one moment, that one ultimate sensation.
God isn’t one moment. God isn’t one sensation.
Get back on that whale watching boat with me. You missed the one and only whale siting. But what did you see? What could you see?
Sure, you’re still behind the glass you wish were cleaner, and yes, you’re still cold. But if you went with someone, you probably sat very close to them. Warmth from someone else. Maybe there was this cute little kid with his dad on the boat. The three-year-old, far too young to get the magnitude of a giant mammal in motion, is just having fun with the gentle rocking of the boat you didn’t even notice. And he laughs a lot. Maybe an old man on the Starboard reminds you of your dad and your memories have a message. Maybe a family who didn’t leave their snacks in the car has a story you can watch unfold, a story of grace and love.
Stop looking for the Big things. Start seeing God in all things. That’s not a watered-down version or a consolation prize for not winning The Big Ticket Item; it is how God works.
Start seeing.
PRAYER: God, help remind me to get my snack out of the car the next time I might forget it, and yes, help me see You in all things—big and small. Amen.
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