In our first installment of this series [InSight] on finding our way back to God, we identified our place in the story, discovered the nature of the epic adventure, and touched on the character of God. We asked the question: what does God want from us? In this installment, let’s consider what we can expect from God as we proactively accept our place in the story. But first, let’s review.

“God has asked us to do only one thing.

He hasn’t asked us to save the world, but merely to know our place in it. God has promised us that if we will be responsible to him, he will take responsibility for us. He’ll make us both willing and able to go and do and be the person he created each of us to be. It is a more divine reality than anything we could dream up on our own, independently of him.” [excerpt from Finding Our Way Back to God (part 1)]

Comfort and Connection

I didn’t plan on running into a God moment, but it happened. My son, Michael, was coaching at our church basketball camp, and it was my job to pick him up. Since Michael is my youngest, I have a clear picture of what it means to drive car pool. I show up early; my children come out late.

As a veteran of waiting for my children, I have developed a habit of using this time wisely. Today I am indulging in a personal pleasure - curiously observing the comings and goings of the people around me. In this case, it’s people gathering to attend an AA meeting. I watch in wonder as a small drama of hope is played out before me. It’s early yet; the meeting won’t start for another forty-five minutes. Standing guard at the door is a man that I can only assume has known the reality of homelessness. He’s a ragamuffin - gnarly in appearance - obviously ridden hard by life. He’s getting in a smoke before his meeting.

Up strolls an elderly lady of such elegance and regal bearing that my mind immediately wanders to grandiose imaginings of her very proper and prosperous life. She is greeted warmly by the ragamuffin sentry at the AA door. She hugs back as if her life depends on it – as indeed it well may. The parade of people continues, each as varied in size, style, and ethnicity as any interested observer could hope to witness.

Food for Thought

Sometimes we get confused about what God expects from us.
We think He wants us to “do” a lot of stuff; we forget that He is far more
concerned with who we “be.” Silly, really, to lose sight of the fact that
who we “be” will always determine what we choose to do.

What are some false beliefs that you have had about God’s expectations of you?

How have they hindered your ability to accept your place in the story and flourish?

Some who dare to enter the door to the meeting room are self-conscious, avoiding eye contact and the ever-expanding welcome committee. Most stop for hugs and warm greetings. Slowly, I recognize this for what it is – an encounter with the very Spirit of Holy God – a God Thing.

Every person going to an AA meeting comes for one reason – to find and by the grace of God keep - sobriety. This is serious business. If you take each one of these brave souls out of the context of this meeting and only study their styles and appearances, you would say they are an incongruous lot. You would be wrong. These people are connected by a powerful force – their desire to find a solution to their spiritual malady. They are joined in a fight of epic proportions – supporting each other in the battle against addiction. Where else could a young pierced and tattooed teen be greeted with equal warmth by a ragamuffin man and an elegant lady of means? I can almost hear the heavenly hosts of angels singing out their delight as they witness the truth of God’s word lived out on this day in this parking lot. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV) Indeed, in this moment, I see this verse lived out before me.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV

Excerpt from InSight - Finding Our Way Back to God (part 2)

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