Paying Attention

We may ask "Where is God?" But what if sometimes we just aren't paying attention? God can show up in unexpected ways, but God also shows up in the ordinary, everyday things of our lives as well. Be on the lookout for God at work this week. 

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Welcome to season four of Faith in the Cracks. I'm Pastor Karen Wright. Life has cracks, moments between activities, places where we feel fractured. This is the space where we listen for God in the ordinary moments of life, where we are reminded that just as cracks let things in, it's a space for light and love to shine through. So just like plants grow in the cracks of a sidewalk, let faith grow in the cracks of our lives, trusting that God is at work within us. Episode 22. Paying attention. And he said, No, I'm waiting on God. And then a helicopter comes. Do you need help? No, I'm waiting on God. And then ask God, why didn't you help me? And God replies, Why didn't you take the help of the boat or the helicopter that I sent? And it's a lighthearted kind of story, but I think sometimes we do ask God, where are you? And there are times that we cannot see God. But I also wonder if sometimes we aren't paying attention. I think about in scripture, Moses, who notices the burning bush, something unexpected. I think it's interesting that the disciples in Luke on the road to Emmaus didn't recognize Jesus until he broke the bread. But God was there all along. They simply had to notice. Sometimes I think our lives are moving so quickly. We're checking emails, we're rushing to appointments, we're scrolling through headlines, we're crossing things off the to-do list, we're doom scrolling through TikTok. And it becomes easy to assume that God only comes in dramatic moments. But what if we stop and look at the ordinary moments? Maybe there's a conversation that lightened your burdens or gave you hope or let you know you were loved. Maybe a neighbor's checking in on you. Maybe your child asks you a very honest question. You get a moment of unexpected laughter. A time to sit and listen to nature. Paying attention is a spiritual practice. And it's not about finding things that are new. But it's about seeing what has been around you all along. So I wonder this week, where do you notice goodness? Where do you experience love? Where are places that God was present? When you start looking for them, you see God's fingerprints all over your day. So may we have the eyes to see where God is already at work. Until next time. Thanks for listening. New podcasts are released every Monday. If you like the show, share it with a friend, or scroll to the bottom of the episode description and support the show for the cost of a cup of coffee once a month. You can also check out my webpage at faithinthecracks.com. As you go through your week, remember you are a child of God and you are loved. May God seep into the cracks and bring forth new life.