The Backside of God This season rests heavily upon the earth pressed down on us with waves of sickness made unforgettable by loss of life, of livelihood, of loved ones, of safe harbor driven home by super storms swirling with ever-increasing force and wild fires devouring acre after acre letting scorched and scarred earth speak for itself In the daylight I watch sets of leaves fall in synchronous circles joining the growing, glowing throng of their siblings when night falls as it does I am startled by scuttling sounds of leaves chased down the empty street by autumn winds under the weight of the season I am comforted by the scurrying scuttle the ordinariness of the sounds Then snow falls out of season, portents of winter yet to come erasing the memories of rainbows stretching over a muddy river heightening the distant dogs barking their warnings and welcomings magnifying the angry neighbors shouting over the opinion of others lifting up politicians making promises demonizing their opponents, losing sight of democracy pandemic strengthening its hold, targeting the vulnerable and devalued ones Between autumn and winter, winds blow, storms rage with unfamiliar intensity God’s absence floods the spaces between hope and despair, life and death, lies and promises, guilt and liberation, sickness and healing In the chaos desperation thrives, feeding on anger and hatred, hopelessness and isolation leaves crunching underfoot give voice to yearning for rest, renewal, a fallow time, a dormancy that will yield new life in due time In this time between what is and what will be God is present in the harsh winds and caressing breezes in the sun, the rain, and the intricacy of each snowflake in season and out in the frenzy of nut collecting squirrels and the determined dogs seeking to deter themi in the cat purring on my lap and the geese calling out their journey south in the rainbows and the rivers in the space between neighbors where love abides in the hands that mark ballot ovals in the healers and hope-bearers in the prophets and the poets in the moments of stillness in the cacophony of nature in the recognition of Mars shining pink in the night sky in death and in life Yet, we often fail to notice mistake stillness for absence or patient waiting for our attention for a lack of care How often we miss God passing by in every moment! If we pay attention, we might be lucky enough to catch a hindsight glimpse of Love of Glory of Grace of Healing of Hope of New Life of Forgiveness of New beginnings of kindness of Justice of Transformation of an opportunity for us all to live better trusting God’s presence in every moment honoring God’s desire for us to live in service to all our neighbors and embody Divine Love when we feel it and when we don’t If we want to see more than the backside of God we can take time to read the book of Creation and look one another in the eyes a moment of Grace is all it takes to discover Christ within us a moment of stillness is all it takes to discover God around us a moment of compassion is all it takes to discover the Spirit among us Hindsight is fine seeking God in the depths, the heights, and the extraordinary in-between might be better
RCL: Year A Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost October 18, 2020 Exodus 33:12-23 with Psalm 99 or
Isaiah 45:1-7 with Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22
Photo: CC0image by Bonnie Kolarik
