Pastor Chris
A little over a month ago, I was leading worship at Esperanza, and in a lot of ways it was a typical Sunday morning worship. The kids (some of them mine) were making noise in the Prayground area of worship – a joyful noise, at that, and the people in the seats were as happy to see one another as always. However, as I was presenting my sermon, sharing the good news of God with the people, I noticed something just a little out of place.
Unbeknownst to me, when my much better half brought the rest of the kids to worship that Sunday, my eldest had recently found his “pit viper” style sunglasses, which had been tucked away somewhere obscure, as kids’ possessions often are. Naturally, he insisted on bringing them to church with him. Usually he hangs out near the Prayground with his younger siblings, but today he decided to sit closer to the front with one of his favorite church people.
It just so happens I was completely unaware of my son’s choice of accessories when worship started, and I remained blissfully unaware through the first half of the worship service. About a third of the way into my message that Sunday, I was beginning to feel pretty good about what I had written. I was getting some nodding heads and appropriately timed laughter, and I was in a groove. Then I looked to my left and noticed my son with his oversize sunglasses on his face, looking completely unimpressed with the world and my sermon. It was as if the Holy Spirit was reminding me in an amusing manner not to get too impressed with myself. Fortunately, I managed not to get too distracted in the moment, but the expression on his face, as well as the unexpected appearance of his sunglasses, made me realize that you never know what you might encounter in church.
And the truth is, God’s presence can be found at a lot of places that we don’t necessarily expect – at the grocery store when you’re either helping someone with an item on a high shelf or the person being helped, or maybe being handled with extra patience when your patience is running thin. Do you see Christ in the humorous circumstance in life that reminds you not to take everything so seriously? Or maybe in the child who smiles at you while you’re waiting in line at the pharmacy?
People of hope, I can say with confidence that every day is a chance for us to see Christ in places where we aren’t looking for him. But he comes to us still. He comes to us through our neighbor and through the wonderful creation that God has made. As we continue on the road through our Easter journey, I invite you to be on the lookout. Christ is alive, and Christ is near. I hope you see him and his blessings every day.
Pastor Chris