What are you looking for?

On my good days I don’t notice the mistakes, missteps, blemishes, and the many imperfections that naturally occur in life. When I do notice them, on my good days, I don’t make note of them. On my good days I am not looking for what’s wrong. I am looking for the love of God benevolently sewn like a golden thread through all of life.

On my bad days the opposite is true. On my days I look for what’s wrong in every moment. I look for low valleys, impassable mountains, crooked lines, and all that’s rough in the world. On my bad days my mind gets hooked on the imperfections and it’s a quick trip to cataloguing all the mistakes I see, then I go on the search for someone to whom I can complain. Pray for the people in my path on my bad days!

But the Gospel says to me firmly, “Hendree, when you go that route you’re squandering the very gift of your own life. There is one who is coming and indeed is here, Jesus Christ, who will show you that there are no low valleys, there are no impassable mountains, nor are there any crooked paths, or rough ways; there is only God who is love coming to you moment by moment “disguised as your own life.”

The great Gospel question is this: what are you looking for?

Are you looking for what’s wrong? You’ll find it sure enough.

Or are you looking for the radiant face of Christ shining through everybody you see?

If you are, you're sure to see him.

I was back home for a birthday party a few weeks ago, and when I walked into my childhood home my mind immediately started making a list of what was missing. Specifically I made a list of all the people who were not there due to the unfortunate fact of their untimely deaths.

My father, two of my cousins, and my big sister, Laura, were all conspicuously absent having carted off to heaven way before I was ready for them to go.

I could feel Laura’s absence most of all because at these big family events we would often find each other in a corner of the party and trade light-hearted (and loving) commentary on what was going on. (I hope you have that person in your family.)

I was really glad to see my niece, Laura’s daughter, who along with two of her sons had come from their home in Montana. When it came time to eat I chose a place at the kids table. Actually, there were only two spots and I grabbed one opposite my 4 year old great nephew, Laura’s grandson, Russell.

Russell and I hammed it up all through supper and along the way the sweetest thought occurred to me: I was doing what Laura could not, that is play and be silly with her grandson.

It struck me that I was doing it on her behalf, so I doubled down on my efforts and before we had finished our supper I said, “Hey, Russell how about I go get us a couple of cookies?”

“Sure, partner,” he said.

I went into the dining room and spotted some tiny cakes (petit fours, fancy, huh?) on the dessert table and grabbed two.

When I set them on our little table Russell looked down at them, then up at me, then he pointed at the tiny cakes and said,

“You call that stuff a cookie?”

I broke down, laughter and tears, and when I looked into his little face I saw my sister

and realized that Russell was doing what she could not, that is, have fun with me at a family gathering.

Then something else happened. For just a little sliver of a moment his little face became even more radiant and I swear the light of Christ turned on and I saw what I should have been looking for the whole time, God in the smile of a child.

“Good point, I said, I’ll go get us some real cookies, partner.” On my way to get the cookies I saw the scene freshly, with new eyes, and I could see that nothing was lacking, the party was perfect.

What are you looking for?

If you’re looking for what’s wrong and what’s missing you’re sure to find it.

Likewise if you’re looking for the presence of God you’re sure to find Him. After all there is nowhere that God is not. What are you looking for?