Where and when have you experienced God’s presence? What has it meant to you… and what have you done about it?
I grew up in a UCC church, with near-perfect attendance in Sunday school. Because of that—or in spite of it, I don’t know which—I had my first real experience of knowing God’s presence when I was 11 years old and my beloved grandfather had a stroke and was in the State Hospital where I wasn’t allowed to visit. It was a long summer with my mom and grandmother visiting him every day while Dad & I sat in the car or under a tree on the hospital grounds. Pappy (my grandfather) died the night before I started 6th grade. My grandfather no longer took me places and played with me, but I had become acutely aware that there really was a God and that God was my friend and kept me company.
That experience came in very handy when I was in college in the early ‘70s. Our campus had a group referred to as “Jesus Freaks.” I’m sure they were at many other colleges too. They liked to go around asking people when they were saved. I equated their definition of being “saved” with my awareness of God’s presence in my life, so I answered their question by saying, “when I was 11.” They never bothered me again.
I went to church camp for the first time the summer after 7th grade. Camp Caz in the Russian River area of northern California is an incredible place of beauty, special friends, spirituality and God-experiences. I loved to sit at Vesper Point and soak up God’s presence and empowerment, both as a teenager and 20 years later as a camp counselor, chaplain and co-director.
I have also experienced God’s presence on a 3-day bike ride in the Napa Valley; in the voice of a pastor telling me I should consider going to seminary; in a colleague’s prayer for me before I served communion for the first time; at my ordination; at Pilgrim Heights camp in Iowa and in the love and creativity of the youth who attended camp there; at deathbed vigils and baptismal celebrations; in the love and caring of many parishioners; in groups of people working together to make a difference in their church, school, community or the world, or working together to bring justice for all where there is inequality for some; and in people whose hearts are filled with love for others and who continue to live in hope even in the face of those who espouse pessimistic opinions and exude negative energy.
In today’s reading from 1 Kings, it seems that Solomon realized that God was much bigger than people had previously thought. The Israelites carried God with them on their wanderings, believing that God resided in the Ark of the Covenant. Now Solomon has built the Temple in Jerusalem—a truly incredible architectural wonder—so that God may have a much grander residence. But Solomon says, in his great prayer to God, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!”
In spite of his many imperfections, Solomon was at home with God. So was Jesus. So was Paul. So can you and I be if we open our ears, eyes, hearts and minds to God’s comforting, calling and challenging presence in our lives.
In Psalm 84 the author praises God and God’s dwelling place, wishing to always be in God’s presence where even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for her young. But we know that some people are homeless, some people are hungry and some people don’t have adequate health care. And guess what?! God can be experienced in the folks who are trying to find ways to provide shelter for the homeless, in the volunteers at the Food Shelf, the Clothes Closet and similar places everywhere, and in everyone who is truly working to solve—and not hinder—the health care crisis in the United States. And I know God was present in Minneapolis this week when the ELCA was meeting and voting for justice and equality for gay and lesbian clergy, just as the UCC has done in the past.
The psalmist says it’s better to be at home with God for just one day than to spend a thousand days elsewhere.
There are lots of things we think are better than other things. My colleague, Kirk Moore, was kind enough to make up an interesting list:
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt”—Mark Twain (also ascribed to Abraham Lincoln)
“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front.”—Nelson Mandela
“It is better to know nothing than to know what ain’t so.”—Josh Billings— 19th century comedian
“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”—Chinese Proverb
“It is better to give than to receive.”—Acts 20:35
“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.”—John Stuart Mill—19th century philosopher
“It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.”—Alfred Lord Tennyson—19th century poet
“It is better to know some of the questions, than all of the answers.”—James Thurber—20th century author
“It is better to look good than to feel good.”—Fernando Lamas[i]
And of course from Psalm 84, there’s a similar ‘better’ quote: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;” Psalm 84:10a (TNIV)
It’s better to be at home with God than anywhere without God. Being at home with God means knowing that God is bigger than any box anyone could possibly make to “hold” God. Being at home with God means realizing that God is everywhere, all the time, all at once. God is in our hearts, in our church, in our town, our state, our nation… and God is also in the whole world and beyond the earth throughout the galaxies and the universe. And even beyond that! God has been here—and there—forever. And God will continue to BE forever!
Being at home with God means trusting that God will be with us, and guide us, in our endeavors. There is much to do when we are at home with God, just as there is always much to do in our own homes. We are called to have faith and to try a few new things. We already know that when we place our trust in God and work together, amazing things can and do happen.
And the psalmist has one more reminder… “O God of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.” AMEN.
[i] The Rev. Kirk Moore, Union Congregational Church, UCC, Somonauk, IL
http://unioncongregationalucc.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/oneday/
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