Searching for God
FROM THE RECTOR
When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation. – from Eucharistic Prayer D, BCP p. 373
Those are some of my favorite words that we use in worship. During the Easter Season, we use Eucharistic Prayer D at the 8:45 and 11:00 Sunday-morning services. It is longer than the other prayers, and I admit sometimes feeling restless by the end, but those words help me stay anchored in the hope we proclaim as Christians. No matter how far away from God we have turned, God again comes close to us so that our seeking after God is not in vain. Still, seeking after something and finding it are not the same thing.
During spring migration, many species of birds, which are not ordinarily found in northwest Arkansas, pass through our area on their way north. By mid-June, almost all of the birds around us will be familiar summer residents. While Indigo Buntings, White-eyed Vireos, and Summer Tanagers are a delight in themselves, the opportunity to glimpse a Golden-winged Warbler or a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which can only be found near here for a vanishingly short period of time, brings birders out into their probable stop-over habitats with hope and delight.
Nevertheless, even though other birders may have reported a nearby target species, not even a well-researched outing is sure to be fruitful. Just this spring, I have tried and failed to find a particular bird on multiple occasions. Some birds are famously illusive, but there are things that an eager birder can do to increase the likelihood of an encounter.
Looking up recent reports of sightings as well as historical data of where a particular bird has been seen in the past can help a birder know when and where to look. More than that, understanding in what sort of habitat a bird is likely to be found can narrow the search considerably. For example, LeConte’s Sparrows prefer fairly tall grass and are not likely to be flushed unless you come very close to them, so, if you want to see one, you will probably need to stray from the path and trudge through a field until it reveals itself.
These birding tricks are hard to learn unless you have an experienced guide who is willing to share their wisdom. Thankfully, the birding community, which is sustained by such sharing, is reliably generous. The same is true of the religious community, which, over the centuries, has identified reliable ways of finding God and has shared them with the faithful.
Just as there is no reason to sit in your backyard and expect a rare bird to alight on your shoulder, there is also no reason to expect God to send an angel to interrupt the busyness of life to communicate a profound spiritual truth. Even though God draws near to us more closely and more often than we are aware, if we are going to discover the divine presence among us, we must take steps that make such an encounter more likely.
If you have not developed a meaningful prayer life, begin with daily prayer, whether using the structure of the Daily Office or simply setting aside fifteen minutes every day. I find that most people who tell me that they pray “all the time” really mean that they pray in response to whatever crisis presents itself. While God is near to those who call upon God in times of need, nourishing a relationship with our Creator is about more than crisis management. Making time with God a priority every day radically changes our ability to perceive God in ordinary circumstances.
If you already have a consistent prayer life that is focused on bringing to God the concerns of your heart, try approaching prayer not only as an opportunity to say things to God but also as a time to wait on God to speak to you. Prayers of intercession and thanksgiving are important, but, if we want to hear what God is saying to us, we need to practice silence. How can you do that? Light a candle to remind you of God’s presence. Set a ten-minute timer to help you stop worrying about how long you should sit quietly. Say a short, centering prayer, like, “God, grant me the grace to sit still and listen to your voice.” And, if your mind starts to wander, gently beckon it back with a sacred word or a cleansing breath.
God speaks to us not only in silent prayer but also in the words of scripture or other spiritual writings. The Episcopal Church has particular lessons appointed for every day of the year, and you can find them here. There are many other daily devotionals that you can use, and the point is not to read the “right” lessons but to make reading the Bible a daily habit.
As with birding, location matters, and the physical places you look for God make a difference. If you work in an office or stay at home most days, make time to go outside and take a spiritual walk. Whether in your neighborhood, around your office, in a nearby park, or in the woods, being outside gives you a different experience of the divine presence, and looking for God beyond the confines of human-made structures helps you encounter the majesty of God.
If, on the other hand, you are the sort of person who prefers to “worship God in nature,” by which you mean, “I’d rather be somewhere besides church on Sunday mornings,” consider the value of experiencing the presence of God amidst the Body of Christ—the hands, feet, hearts, and minds of the Incarnate One you find in the pews around you. While there is incomparable benefit to looking for God in wilderness places, our primary experience of God’s presence is in corporate worship, when together we ascend into heaven and stand in the glory of God. Certain parts of our spiritual journey, including the assurance of our reconciliation with God as we experience reconciliation with each other, necessitates a shared experience. If Sunday mornings will not work, try Wednesdays at noon or Wednesday evenings or at least watch the Sunday-morning livestream at a time that works for you.
Lastly, at least for now, consider how you might benefit from the wisdom of other, more experienced spiritual practitioners. Although many spiritual disciplines are individualistic, our faith is almost never something we are called to pursue on our own. Come to Morning Prayer in the church at 8:00 a.m. every weekday or to Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays. Join any of our contemplative prayer groups that meet in person or online. Show up for a Bible study or invite a few friends to meet for coffee and spiritual conversation every week. Meet with a spiritual director who can help you discover new ways of looking for God in prayer, study, worship, and service.
I believe that God is always closer to us than we realize, even and especially in those moments when God feels furthest away. God is not waiting for us to find a secret path or unlock a hidden door. God is nearer than that. God has come among us in ordinary moments as familiar as a mother’s hug, a summer shower, or a Cardinal’s song. God beckons us to tune our hearts to know and feel God’s presence. The steps we take to help us recognize the closeness of God among us may not come easily at first, but we soon discover that they are as natural as taking our next breath.
Yours faithfully,
Evan D. Garner