Does spiritual connection with God come with a grand gesture?
A thoughtful reflection on the search for spiritual connection in everyday life.
Growing up, my Czech mother’s household ran with structure. Smooth like Bailey’s cream liqueur, my Irish father softened the structure, making it easy to adhere to. Because of my respect for my heritage and my parents, my upbringing has stayed with me as a beneficial part of my life.
Along with life’s natural rhythms, the structure I live by is predictable and comforting. Mother Nature’s seasonal changes are part of the structure that keeps these rhythms in place. With the seasons, there are shifts in my routines, but the basic ingredients remain the same. One of the always-included routines is walking the dog.
In the summer, for Winnie’s walks, we must wake before dawn and capture that 45min window just after the night creatures have settled, but before the sun makes outside activity unbearable. With winter’s direction, we have much more freedom. Staying inside for a leisurely morning leads to some enjoyable midday outdoor time. I look forward to this transition.
Opening the windows each morning for some fresh air, I use my senses to decide whether we will walk sooner or later. My calculations will determine whether I will get morning Bible reading time. This morning, I smelled the crispness of the lower overnight temps, so after Winnie’s pre-breakfast potty walk and after she ate breakfast, we settled down to read.
Exploring some of the online material that comes with a Bible study app I am using, I learned about other folks who are experiencing some changes of their own. More and more people are tired of the endless frustrations of life and are seeking answers. They are turning to the Bible, God and Jesus.
This morning I was reading interviews of people who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and who want to know God, the Father. They read chapters and verses in many places in the Bible by multiple authors who wrote about their experiences as they came to enlightenment.
For example, in Exodus 3, Moses encounters a burning bush with flames that do not consume it. Moses approaches the shrub to inspect it.
“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’” (Exodus 3:4) I can imagine the feelings Moses had as he witnessed this grand gesture and heard God calling. I’d have been scared and at the same time in awe.
The Book of Matthew retells the story of the Magi. God shows His power and greatness by suing a star to guiding the kings to the baby, Jesus.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. (Matthew 2:1-2) Not as bodacious as a flaming shrub, but still an awesome happening.
The Bible tells many stories of God’s epic presence. And now, in modern-day epiphanies, people’s stories are still being told and experienced. But what about the average believer? They also experience grand moments and can witness God’s miracles. It is happening to many of us every day. The regular believers who relay their stories in personal interviews tell of how their emotions bubbled to the surface.
As they share their experiences, they tell of being filled with a warm sensation sometimes, and tingling. All the feelings that describe rebirth. Smiling with joy, they are sharing their happiness. It is wonderfully inspiring and dramatically moving.
Feeling my own emotions inside, I finished reading these stories and sat still. With Winnie still snoring beside me, I turned to gaze at the mountain range outside my open window as a gentle breeze fluffed across my face. A deep sigh welled up as I breathed in comfort and contentment.
After a peaceful morning, Winnie readies herself for a walk.
Contemplating the morning Bible-reading time and energized by some amazing stories, I started the Winnie-walk protocol; stand, stretch, shoes, harness and leash. It is always the same, no matter the time of day.
I focused on Winnie as we began the walk; what she was doing, where she was putting her nose. I gently guided her to her favorite potty areas and away from environmental harm like pokey cacti and stickers in the ground-covering weeds.
As we walked, my mind returned to contemplation. I enjoy hearing grand gesture stories. When seeking my relationship with God, it’s inspiring to hear from others when they share their dramatic encounters. Their enthusiasm is contagious.
Their experiences draw me in. “I want what she’s having,” I’d say if I met them in person. “Where do I sign up?” But when my own experiences don’t measure up to what I know about others’, I expect to feel disappointment. While waiting for the spectacular manifestation the others have had, will I be missing the genuine stuff?
1 John 2:6 “Those who say they abide in Him ought themself also to walk just as He walked.”
In seeking an improved relationship with the Lord, my Savior, I want to find Him and be with Him in my everyday life. But after the thrill of a. new relationship wears off, what’s left? Have I missed the best part?
After Winnie spent her pent-up energy and settled into an after-burner pace, I seized the chance to slow my thoughts and appreciate the landscape. It was a cloudy morning with patches of blue. There was still a cool breeze, and I could detect some faint fragrances as many plant species, sated by recent rains, were putting out another cycle of blooms.
My eyes took in the broader scene as I looked down the street, and I saw the beauty. The sky opened above, with clouds resembling a patchwork painting. I could see random brush-strokes applied in sweeps and swirls. Then, a tree came into my frame of consciousness. Its crooked branches reached up at an angle from a gnarled and tilted trunk, and the branches equalized the imbalance. It was as perfect as the imperfect skies.
Caught in a quiet moment observing, I felt the existence of God.
I looked towards heaven as if I’d been called by name. Then, I saw the leaves on one tree rustling, and the same breeze that had caressed my face through the window earlier revisited me. I thought this is how God walks with me every moment, every day. And God was telling me He is here.
Psalms 139:5 You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.
In any relationship, the power of connection comes from the slight touch of the hand. The breath of the gently whispered “I Love You.” Love delivers its most important messages within the mundane. To build intimacy with God, it is the small acts of faith, not the grand gestures, that lead to your spiritual growth.
Zechariah 4:10 states, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin".
