I can see clearly now the rain is gone// I can see all obstacles in my way// Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind// It’s gonna be a bright (bright)// Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Johnny Nash, 1971

I recently had posted something about holy happenings that generated some discussion about my understanding of the location of God. Somehow, the conversation shifted to Israel’s understanding and whether I was challenged by its ancient perspective. In a word, no. For the ancient Israelites, the symbols of altar, tabernacle and temple functioned for them as images of God’s house and that God dwelled with his people there. As a Christian, I believe that their understanding of a living God, active in creation and dwelling with us was fully confirmed in Jesus Christ because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him (Colossians 1.19).

That being said, I share the awareness of the psalmist’s regarding the presence of God everywhere: He loves righteousness and justice; the Lord’s faithful love fills the whole earth (Psalm 33.5); But your loyal love, Lord, extends to the skies; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. Your righteousness is like the strongest mountains; your justice is like the deepest sea. Lord, you save both humans and animals. (Psalm 36.5-6); Lord, the world is full of your faithful love! Teach me your statutes! (Psalm 119.6).

And when I stop to remove the cataracts, I find that I locate God in a myriad of places, not the least of which is in the lives of my wife, daughter and I. We are where we are, and who we are, as family and individuals because of God’s direction and blessings owing to the work of the Holy Spirit that has manifested itself in the help, support and love from Christian, Jew and Muslim alike, as we struggled through incredibly dark, dangerous times.

I find God’s presence in the laughter and song of the children of our nursery school and in the love and care that the small group of teachers and aides shower upon them. I may be “Mr. Keith’ to the little ones, but each and every one of them are God moments for me.

I witnessed God’s presence around the table of older men that met (pre Covid-19) regularly every Saturday morning to share coffee, lots of ‘fish’ stories and most importantly, his Word. I have observed the work of the Spirit in several of their lives; a transformation taking them deeper into their faith and scriptural understanding. I find God’s presence in the work of our food pantry and its many volunteers that assist 100 families a month as they struggle with food insecurities.

But the most breathtaking, awesome, overwhelming evidence of God’s presence is what I witness in my daughter’s testimony. Skylar recently unearthed the Anne Frank of her generation in a young woman that perished in the Columbine High School massacre. The woman’s story triggered reactions from my daughter that demonstrate the presence and deep love of God; an awareness that is challenging her, but so very, very importantly, showing her God’s work and presence in her life.

All of these are instances of the sacred for me: that is, where the material and the spiritual have, and do, intersect. As I said, once you remove the cataracts…