In one of my first postings I
talked about “God Noticings”; those times when we know the coincidence is not
merely a coincidence, dots are connected, the missing piece is found which
completes the puzzle.
Encounters that we know at the very core of our being is about something
bigger than us – a “God Thing”, if you will. A friend said she calls these a ‘wink’ from
God. It’s as if He enjoys sending
us opportunities to glimpse His presence in our life.
But I have recently been
introduced to a new idea when it comes to God noticings. In his book God Hides in Plain Sight
by Dean Nelson, he writes about witnessing baptisms in the muck and mire or our
every day lives. I’m not talking
about baptism in the church, although certainly that is the foundation from
where we begin. Rather Mr. Nelson
suggests some of our noticings may go deeper than a ‘wink’ from God, it might
be something that will cause us to shed our old skin and take on the new. Our journey happens upon a detour, we
realize there has been a change, we are walking a new path; we have experienced
a baptism.
I believe our recent vacation to Hawaii was a baptism experience for me!
On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it a six – Bill on the other hand
would give it a ten. He was able
to get past the wind, rain, and rocky beach, I was not. So how does this equate to
a baptism encounter? I began
to realize God was handing me an opportunity to wash away yet another layer of
my need for perfection. Not only
my need for perfection, but my need to cover up those times that are less than
perfect. I made the decision I
would be honest when asked how I enjoyed my vacation; a change of direction on my path of not only accepting
myself, but also not projecting to others that which I perceive they want to
hear.
Let me close with a quote from God
Hides in Plain Sight:
“. . . the Kingdom of God is
continuously visiting, interrupting, invading, disrupting, what we perceive to be the world. We step into the Jordan River
throughout our day. When we let it
wash the chatter around us, we hear the voice that says ‘you are more than your
job, your role, your mask. You are
mine. And I am pleased.’ When we step out of the river, we are
initiated, illumined, and clean.”
Have you witnessed a
wink from God lately?
How about a baptism?
This is so deep and fresh. Thank you for being willing to risk being true! In your trueness, realness, enoughness, I am freed to be more authentic too. If we accept that who we are is enough in God's presence and perspective, think what God might be able to do? I am in a "thin place" of realizing that I want to say "no" to a new opportunity because I feel like an amateur and I fear letting people down. But, I have a sense deep down that God wants me to say "yes" to this new chance to grow. Almost like saying "no" would be letting God down. God isn't calling me a professional--just me as a person who loves the art of being with people. Why isn't that enough for me if it is enough for God? Your blog lends me perspective about my own perfectionism which gives me fear. Thanks!
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