What God promised

Rev. dawn b. young

Pretty sure by now we have grown a bit accustomed to all the bad news coming out of Japan. Chronic exposure to horrific events dulls our awareness, not only to the normal bad things, but the profoundly abnormal. Certainly we here in Louisiana know all too well the compassion fatigue that results from too much information. Doesn’t change the reality for those near the epicenter, but it affects and effects those of us on the periphery. How can we stay informed and compassionate at the same time? The fact remains that we have to be diligent, persistent, ever watchful to that Katrina will always be with us. Haiti will always be with us. Japan will always be with us. These are our neighbors. But mostly important, just as God promised, God is always with us. Praise God there is no opposite of Immanuel. There is no God NOT with us. ONLY God with us.

God promised that to Abraham. God promises that to us. God is not some far off being, some ultimate reality, but a presence to be with and among us. The question becomes where are we in relation to God’s presence. If we don’t sense God, if we don’t feel God, if we don’t experience God – guess who moved! Not God. We are the one’s that stray and wander. Perhaps it is too much to imagine that God not only makes the time for us, but actually cares and seeks out relationship with us.

So how are we to manifest our devotion to God? By loving God, by opening up our selves for God and becoming available for what God has in store. Abraham did. Abraham had his struggles, but ultimately, faithfully, he responded to God’s call. That’s what can be in stor for us. It’simple, but there is nothing easy about it.