Seeing Strange Things

Text: Luke 5:26
Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’ (NRSV)

There are a lot of things that happen that many people would refer to as “coincidences” that cause others to give glory to God.  It reminds me of an old joke about a man desperately looking for a parking space on a crowded city street.  He was about to be late for the most important meeting of his life and he had been circling the block where his meeting was to take place for almost 15 minutes with no luck finding a place to park.  Finally, he decided that he would pray.  “Oh God,” he began, “if you will get me a parking place so that I am not late for this meeting, I’ll give a full 10% of my income to the church each month and I won’t miss another worship service.”  Just then a car right in front of him pulled away leaving an empty parking spot.  The man immediately cried out, “Never mind God, I found one.”

I think it is how you look at the world that determines if you see God at work or not.  What some might call coincidences and others might call the fruit of their own hard work, I see as God breaking into their reality and gifting them with God’s grace, love, and mercy.  All I have to do is expect God to show up, and I see God’s handiwork everywhere I look.  Others may claim that they have seen “strange things”, but I believe it is evidence of God’s love for God’s creation.

What have you seen that you have chalked up to luck or coincidence?  Do you expect to see God at work around you?  Do you believe that all you have and all you have accomplished have only been by your own hard work and determination?

Pray with me:

God of love and God of doing I give you glory for all things in my life.  May my living be a constant act of worship as I move through each day in your most holy presence.  AMEN.