This Week's Assignment

Sometimes as Christians, it seems as if God only speaks through extraordinary things or to extraordinary people.  When you read the Bible, you are told of pillars of fire and cloud, great floods, burning bushes, immaculate conceptions, and all sorts of other wonders.  Today, you will occasionally hear someone speak of God when they witness something truly extraordinary - a beautiful sunset or a child surviving cancer linked to "God's handiwork."  It is common to make a separation, even subconsciously, between those things that are infused with the divine, and those things that are just plain ordinary.  But does God only speak through miracles and the wonders of His creation?

Even the faithful sometimes wonder if their prayers are being heard or ignored, much less answered.  Why must we continue to put up with the injustices of our lives, we may ask ourselves - nothing against child cancer patients or sunset, of course.  One could even come to believe, and some certainly have, that God's greatest moments are in the past - something only for biblical times and Charlton Heston movies.  After all, pillars of fire are so passé, right?

Pause for a moment, look around you, and begin to listen.  God is speaking to you through the people and situations around you all the time.  Your assignment is to pick a day, any day you like, and frame it in faith by listening to what God is saying to you.  Don't expect the clouds to open up - God often comes to us in the most subtle, unlikely form.  As you interact with others and are confronted with daily situations, ask yourself how God is speaking to you through these things.  Do not be afraid to respond to Him, either.  Think of the day as one continuous conversation with your Creator.

That evening, take a few moments to reflect upon your day all as a whole and consider the big picture.  (I guarantee you will most likely ask yourself why you don't do this every day!)  If you have time, write down some of your reflections and we'll share them together on Sunday!