Saint or not?

Oh, when I was young, I wanted to be a saint! Saints were people who were close to God and favored by God. Saints got to see God. So, what did that mean for the rest of us? Well, by implication, it meant people who were not saints were not close to God, were not favored by God, and they didn’t get to see God. Right?

Do we really believe this? Are you close to God? Are you favored by God? Can you see God?

Though many might answer yes to the first question, I bet the other two cause some doubt and discomfort.

Jeremiah tells us, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart” (29:13). I believe the distinction between “saint” and “the rest of us” is brought to light in this verse. To the degree that each of us commits our hearts to finding God, might this determine how close we get, how favored we are, and how well we see? We’re all permitted, invited, and encouraged to be saints.

Lay your heart down in this search for God. Your whole heart. Without reserve. Do not give up, and do not take it back.

Reflection

Do you seek God with all your heart? If not, take time to identify the hesitation, reluctance, or fear. What is its origin and what might God want you to do about it?

Prayer

Dear God, if I offer you a little bit of my heart, I’ll see just a little bit of you. If I offer you a lot…. Oh, I’m not sure I know what all this means! I’m not sure how to do this! I get angry when I can’t sense you! I get impatient. I am tempted to turn away. Don’t let me, Lord. I want to find what other people seem to find. I want you to be all that I dream you to be! Keep me focused on this journey. Don’t let me turn away. Keep me coming to sit under the Juniper and watch for you. Amen.