A stunning sight
It was one of those, ‘is this God speaking to me?’ moments that those who follow Jesus experience. A thought surfaces, seemingly from nowhere, and the persistent luminosity of it makes us wonder if the Holy Spirit is broadcasting on our personal wavelength. Some believers insist that their lives are punctuated with daily, even hourly revelations. I haven’t found God to be quite so chatty. And so when I do sense His nudge, usually I dash into crisis mode: is this thought that races around my mind just my wishful thinking, is it truly the Divine voice, or merely the after-effects of last night’s Chicken Tikka Marsala? I wish God would speak with a louder, clearer voice, but perhaps He whispers because He wants us to draw closer that we might hear.
Back to my inner nudge. Half way through a Sunday morning service, I was just about to preach when the thought surfaced again: ‘Take a look at My beautiful people’.
And so I did.
I looked around at the sea of faces that was our congregation, and recalled some of their stories. Over there was John, who married after desperately longing for a soulmate for decades, only to lose his darling in a drunk driver caused crash. Towards the back was Sally, who poured her life out on a lonely mission field. Not many responded to her life of kingdom service, but she stayed the course until retirement. Now she feels somewhat lost, surplus to requirements. I look her way but she is unaware, for her eyes are shut tight, her hands raised in worship. Beautiful indeed.
And the whisper confirmed the truth that God who flings stars into being with a word, daubs drab skies with rainbows, and paints deep sea fishes in stunning colours that no human eye will ever see - this God of ours finds the greatest delight when He sees hearts that trust Him through mystery. .
Recently I was treated to yet another dazzling sight.
Some dear friends of ours have just been given a terminal cancer diagnosis. A tearful oncologist delivered the dreaded news: our friend Steve, who manages the administration and production of Life with Lucas, has been given just months to live. There are hopeful possibilities with some radical treatment options, but he and his family tread a bewildering path: the possibility of a medical solution, their belief in a miracle working God who can heal in a moment, all entwined with an upcoming visit to a hospice to discuss end of life care.
And when life is threatened, life still goes on. The weekend after the dark diagnosis, Steve, a brilliant evangelist who uses comedy in his ‘tricks and laughs’ presentations, performed at four outreach events. He is also the publisher of Sorted, an outstanding Christian magazine for men. Bekah continues to lead Restored, a non-profit dedicated to help victims of domestic abuse
During a transatlantic phone chat, Bekah spoke of some of the good things that they are celebrating even as they pass through the valley of the shadow. ‘There is so much beauty to be seen, even in this horrible season’, she said. ‘We don’t want to miss the lovely things that God is surely doing’.
That’s when we had to pause for tears, because in celebrating treasure that can be found even in darkness, Bekah and Steve have themselves become quite beautiful in their persistent faith and faithfulness. In the intense and unwelcome roller coaster ride that suffering brings, they are clinging to God through the white knuckle ride. They are, in short, a stunning sight.
Often we get focused on what’s wrong with the world and with the church. Fixated on the failures of high profile Christian leaders, we sink into despair. Preoccupied with the picky pettiness that breaks out when someone suggests moving the pews, we wonder if there’s any future for a people so resistant to change.
But all around us, today, there are quiet yet glorious examples of tenacious dedication.
If you’re one of them, know this: your love for Christ surely turns His head.
If you will, please share a prayer for Steve and Bekah and their lovely family.
And if you’re preoccupied with ugliness, in yourself, in others, in our broken world and imperfect church, then know this: there’s beauty to be found in the most surprising places.
Look again.