Big Guy sightings...

Something occurred to me this week that I thought was worth remembering. Janet stood up and told a story that 10 years ago probably would have preceded an eye-rolling of such holy magnitude that you'd call a priest to come and exorcise me.

But today--I'd have to say my perspective is a little bit different. A little bit... changed.

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My pastor has told the story in several different contexts before. He and his brother, Lynn, went out fishing one night. They were on a boat in the middle of some lake in northwest Iowa, and the sky was open and clear. Lynn, who'd gone off to college and come back "all fired up" was ready to talk. Jay must have been in middle school or high school. I don't really remember. But he cites being very affected by Lynn's new passion.

He tells us that he prayed a prayer, asking God to show Himself in a very specific kind of way. To answer the question: "Are You out there?" And he says that God showed up that night in a definitive way and that it changed the direction of his life forever.

He's very good at telling stories. He's got good timing. I love it when he tells that story because every time, I wonder... will he tell us?

And every time---"Now, I'm not going to tell you what I prayed for, or what I saw, but... "

Seems kinda counterintuitive, doesn't it? But I think I understand why...

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I think it all has to do with how big you think God is. Or has to be to still BE God. Or how small you'll allow Him to be.

Ever thought about that? We have no problem accepting a larger-than-life God who is sovereign and transcendent. But we have to cognitively *allow* God to get small. To become real to us.

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So Janet's story was simple. They were out on vacation, her and her family. They were fishing on some empty lake, and just catching nothing. So, if I remember correctly, her daughter says something like "I wonder if this is what the disciples felt like that one time they didn't catch anything ALL night." And Janet, not to let a teachable moment slip by, suggests that they pray for fish.

Ridiculous, eh?

Within 10 minutes, she says, she and her husband have quit they fishing poles because the 2 children are pulling in fish after fish after fish. . Right??? She says the fishing was like that every night after for the rest of their trip. Crazy? No-coincidence. Except here's the thing. Faith like a child.

I've never seen a person healed. That I am aware of. I've never spoken to an angelic creature. That I know of. But I've seen some stuff. I've seen coincidences that were too coincidental to actually be coincidental. All you have to do is allow the possibility that God actually *wants* to be visible in our lives. When I started to look, I started to see. I still struggle to allow God to work in such unimpressive circumstances. I think I've insulted God more times than honoring Him by failing to recognize the favor He'd poured out on me by "aligning" things just so.

I say look for the coincidences. Look for the small blessings. I say let God make Himself visible in the minutiae. The thing I keep thinking is that I have to allow Him to work in ridiculous places.

What's a God like YOU doing in a place like THIS?

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I would tell you some of the most recent sightings of the Big Guy, 'cause He keeps showing up. Can't seem to shake Him. But I'm afraid you might start rolling your eyes.

Maybe next time I'll tell the story with a better, more detailed ending... you never really know...