A likely presence in an unlikely place

When was the last time you noticed God in an unlikely place? What was happening? How did he reveal himself to you? Did you catch a glimpse right away, or was it a slow revelation of his presence?

In his version of the birth narratives, Matthew introduces Jesus to us as Emmanuel, or "God with us." The gospel author John does not have a birth narrative per se to open his story of Jesus, but he does say one thing very similar to Emmanuel:
 

"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.'"
~ John 1:14

That line is probably the best synopsis of the Christmas story of all time.

However, the story doesn't end there. Throughout his ministry, one of the most repeated lines by Jesus is "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (also "is near," "is upon you," "is given to you," "has come near you," and "is yours"). Further, Jesus told his followers that after he ascended to the Father, he would send the Holy Spirit "to be with you forever."

Emmanuel, God with us... = presence
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us... = presence
The kingdom of God is in your midst... = presence
The Holy Spirit is with you forever... = presence

In other words, the message of Christmas is that God has come near, or become present, in a way that has never happened before (he is "with you"), and through the Holy Spirit, God is present today even more closely than he was in Jesus (he lives in you)!

So if that is the case, then God is not simply present in some places - even if they are unlikely places - he is present in every place.

Which brings us back to the original question: "When was the the last time you noticed God in an unlikely place?" 

Let's shorten that a bit: "When was the last time you noticed God in a place?"

Let's shorten that a bit more: "When was the last time you noticed God?"

Did you notice him some time this past month? How about this past week? How about today? How about in the last hour? If the message of Christmas is accurate (Christmas = presence), and if God doubled down on the closeness of his presence through the Holy Spirit, then we can notice him any time we want, should we desire to take the time to stop, rest, and look.

PAUSE and REFLECT: Take a moment to read through this prayer by Robert Wood.  After you've read it through, read it again, this time more slowly and with pauses to reflect. After you're done, look up, look around you, and ask God to show you his presence.

How is he revealing his love to you in this very moment, in this very place?
 

Father God,

Why is it that I think I must get somewhere, assume some position, be gathered together, or separated apart in the quiet of my study to pray?

Why is is that I feel that I have to go somewhere or do some particular act to find you, reach you, and talk with you?

Your presence is here

     In the city - on the busy bus, in the factory, in the cockpit of the airplane;

     In the hospital - in the patients’ rooms, in the intensive care unity, in the waiting room;

     In the home - at dinner, in the bedroom, in the family room, at my workbench;

     In the car - in the parking lot, at the stoplight.

Lord, reveal your presence to me everywhere, and help me become aware of your presence each moment of the day.

May your presence fill the nonanswers, empty glances, and lonely times of my life. Amen.

This prayer is possible because of Christmas. So Merry Christmas, Church.