I’m sitting in the Northern Kentucky Conference Center waiting to be called back to donate blood. It’s part of our KY United Methodist Annual Conference. This year, our Bishop wanted clergy and lay delegates alike to not just sit and absorb the words and messages we were hearing but to actually go out and engage. There are folks all over the Covington area serving in many different ways in an effort to understand the focus of our conference “Called by God, sent to serve.”
I’m sitting here talking to a bunch of my new friends in this conference. My former President at Asbury, Conference officials, co-workers, and Pastor friends of mine. Earlier today, the Bishop came up to me and asked if I was behaving. I was honest and said no, to which he replied “i’m glad to hear it, would expect nothing less.” How great is that?
This morning, Dr. Joy Moore shared our morning Bible Study. She said a lot of really good things that have continued to run around my head and heart. One of the things that jumped out was a question: “Do you have a God imagination?” She elaborated on this for a while and talked about how this part of her fun as a follower of Jesus. I couldn’t help but take her question a bit further, “Do you imagine that God could show up at anytime in your _________ (insert activity here).”
I have a big imagination. I think big, and often crazy things. I can’t help it. I think of jumping from building to building like Spiderman or of flying like Superman. I also think of less DC/Marvel Comic inspired dreams. I think of being able to win or inherit a ton of money, which I then turn around and find creative ways to surprise bless folks. I think or dream of being able to fantastic things. Imagination is a cool thing. With my imagination in full gear most all of the time, I wonder if I ever imagine God showing up in random circumstances or places? I pray and hope that God will show up in my preparations or at our worship experiences (though not nearly as much as I want or need to). But what about imagining God to show up in staff meetings or at lunch? What about God showing up at Kroger while I’m buying groceries? Do I imagine God showing up while I’m pumping gas or while I’m sitting at a traffic light?
This is a piece of my imagination that I’d sorely like to increase. I’d like to have that kind of expectancy – that kind of “holy-what-if?” I think it’ll serve me well to let my imagination get the best of me. What would happen, If God did show up with me at all these random places? how would I change – what could I notice and be aware of that I’m probably missing?
The amazing thing, of course, is that God really is right there with me. Sadly, I’m just not aware. In Genesis, the scoundrel who became one of the patriarchs of the Hebrew people had one of those encounters. Jacob was running. He was in fear of his life and that night, as he slept alone with a rock for a pillow, he saw something pretty amazing. Read Genesis 28 and notice what Jacob said at the end of his dream. Is that God imagination? God in this place and have I missed God because I was unaware?
See you soon!