From the UCC Network - Devotional 9/12

How God Speaks

Excerpt from Luke 15:1-10

“I’ve found my lost sheep… I’ve found my lost coin.” (The Message)

Reflection by William C. Green

God is not absent.  We are.  We are when we lose direction, get lost going our own way, but keep on going anyway until we reach a point where we want to give up.

With such times in mind, Frederick Buechner writes: “Listen to your life.  Listen to what happens to you because it is through what happens to you that God speaks . . . .  It’s in a language not always easy to decipher, but it’s there, powerfully, memorably, unforgettably.”

Listening for this voice, we gradually find the direction we need and regain the hope we lost.  Our attention is now on God’s promise of guidance and strength.  At first it’s hard to get.  It’s hard to believe that God is speaking in what happens to us, especially in difficult circumstances that can also be plain wrong.  “I don’t deserve this!”  “It’s not right, it’s not fair!”  “How can a loving God let this happen?”

We can’t always decipher God’s promises by ourselves.  That’s why we’ve been given the church, or others to think, and hopefully, pray along with us.  Maybe it’s time to get out of the corners we paint ourselves into and seek out others we’ve disregarded before.    

It’s not all bad feeling helpless.  Maybe that’s God’s way of getting our attention.

Prayer
God, you’re not away somewhere, you’re not lost.  I’m grateful that I don’t have to be lost either.  Amen.

About the Author William C. Green, a United Church of Christ minister, is the Director of Long Looking, a consultancy service specializing in fundraising and education for congregations. His new book, 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving, has just been published.