Resurrection

OK, maybe we should think of it more as a reappearance; I haven't been dead, just lazy for 18 months. But today I saw something that inspired me to write!

Usually when I drive past a church sign with a pithy platitude, I shake my head and roll my eyes. Sometimes there's even an audible "eeww!" You know, I just don't see God using the language of most church signs. But today I saw one in San Antonio that (had I not been driving in traffic on 410 would have) made me stop and take note. It asked, in stylish LED flashing lights, "What is God is asking YOU for a sign?"

It makes a good point. We often wish for a sign, for confirmation that God is there, that God cares, understands, or at least is aware. Show me a sign! Tell me what to do! Make the bush burn! (I've been evoking that one lately.)

But does God ever ask the same of us? Hey, you human--are you really there? Do you care, understand, are you aware of what is important to me? Did you hear what I just asked YOU? Sometimes we live our lives on such autopilot that it doesn't seem that we really ARE here, because if we were we'd react differently. We'd be outraged at injustice and discrimination. We'd be heartbroken for all the forgotten, left out, hungry, poor, sick folks we (rather) choose not to notice. We'd make our choices based on how to make God's love real in the world rather than how to make a buck or how to make ourselves feel better.

What if God IS asking us for a sign? We like to tell God what kind of sign we want/need/can interpret (it's even in the Bible!). But we're not as good at listening to what sign God wants from us. It's also in the Bible--kindness, patience, peace, love, joy goodness, faithfulness.

And, since the sign didn't supply the usual hokey-ness, here's a dose for you, from years of Vacation Bible School:

"And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love"

That would be a sign God, and neighbor, could see.