God sightings guest blogger: Rick

Today's guest blogger is Rick T. Rick and his wife, Rhonda, have been members at Peace for several years and have three children in 8th, 6th, and 4th grade. Rick has served as a leader for Route 56 and Route 78 for the past 3 years and has been on the Middle School Mission Trip twice. 

Where do you see God at work?  Sounds like a simple question but why is it so hard to answer?   The obvious answer is He is present everywhere around us.  But why can’t we see?  Why are we pressed to come up with examples?

These are questions I have been asking myself over the past few years.  At times answers come easy and at other times I am at a loss.  So I began challenging myself, especially during difficult times to remind myself of God’s presence among us.

I have had the privilege to be a small group leader for  5-8 graders in Route 56 and Route 78 for the past few years.  To watch these kids grow in their Faith lives is nothing short of astounding.  Day to day experiences, service projects and Mission Trips all show God is at work in profound ways with this group.  

When I asked the question to my Route 78 students at the start of the year they too struggled to provide answers.  What I think we have discovered is that God is so present in our lives that sometimes we begin to take his presence for granted.  I do not say this as a negative, the Holy Spirit has become ingrained in each of these kids there is no doubt.

Mission Trip experiences have been a huge source of answers to the question.  Without exception anyone who has participated in the Middle School Mission Trips for the past 2 years has commented that they have seen God at work at Mary’s Place.

 The service these kids quietly do and the connections they make cannot be put in to words.  Each participant will respond with the name or names of those they connected with at Mary’s Place.  They describe the interaction they had with that someone, perhaps playing a game of basketball, playing tag, doing crafts or reading to some of the young residents.  But you can see in their eyes the presence of the Holy Spirit as they speak. 

Moments captured in the hearts and minds of those who participated.  A young boy living at Mary’s Place began our visit two years ago being very shy.  He was engaged by some of our kids.   Soon he and his older brother were laughing and playing with the group.  Toward the end of the visit he appeared in a playroom for younger kids.  He asked Pastor Kirsten and I “Where’s my brother?”  Neither of us had seen his brother for a while and suggested he may have gone back to their room.   He turned and while looking at one of our kids his face beamed.  He pointed at the young man from Peace and said “That’s my Brother!”   A moment that moves me to this day!

Another Mission Trip highlight was packaging meals at Feed My Starving Children.  From a 2 hour shift worked by our kids and other volunteers enough meals were packed to feed 40 children for a year.  Each of our youths connecting, forming relationships, memories and experiences.  God is at work in them and through them!   

Losses touched many in our Route 78 group earlier this year.  The support the kids gave each other was well beyond their years.   During an especially difficult time for one of the kids a group of the kids immediately and spontaneously surrounded the one who was suffering in a group hug.  The wall of support was amazing.  Another amazing experience was just after one of the adult small group leaders experienced the loss of their father.  One of the kids who had been through recent major losses in their life was supporting the adult leader.

You may ask, Okay so where is God during the trying times?  I currently have four friends and acquaintances at various points in their individual battles with cancer.   God is definitely at work in and through each of them.  One beginning their battle demonstrates the will to defeat the illness and surrounds herself with the support of friends.  

Another describes drawing on this same will to survive to the point that Oncology Nurses encouraged her to reach out to other patients and serve as an inspiration to them.  She shares humorous stories about her determination in her recovery from surgeries.  The last friend has been on a long road in his battle with the disease.  We spoke one night of what it was like to be in a place renowned for medical miracles, a place where hope for cures is so prevalent that you can feel the energy in the halls.  We also spoke of acts both large and small of people connected to his family that have supported them in so many ways.  He thanked me at the end of the conversation.  I told him that I thought he helped me through our conversation more than I had him.   

A weekly reminder of God at work among us is in worship at Peace.  Whether it is the watching the banter of young siblings, the families gathered, senior members and single people. Watching the interactions of people of all generations is truly an inspiration.  Each has a unique story, God is at work in and through all of them.

Pause a moment each day.  Replay your day.   Open your heart to God, and become aware of where he shows His presence in your life.  

Where do YOU see God at work?   In you, through you and around you.