Sharing the Good News in the Least Obvious Places

In my home congregation I attended a young adult group. I made friends with a guy who played in a rock band. Let’s just say he was no stranger to the party scene. It is hard to imagine God being in a place where drinking and recreational drug use was a common practice. In churches we are often taught to stay away from parties and bars. “Stay on the straight and narrow,” my grandmother used to say.

Putting all our misperceptions aside for a moment, many nights at these taboo parties my friend would be hanging out with his non-religious friends, having in-depth conversations about who God is. One of his friends even started coming to church with us.

Jacob finds out that God shows up in the most unexpected places. The reality is God is always there. Sometimes we may need God to open our eyes to this reality. For my friend the words, “Surely the Lord is in this place — and I did not know it!” came alive on these nights when he was sharing the good news with his friends.

Where has God unexpectantly appeared in your life?

Mysterious God, open our eyes to your presence in our lives and in the lives of others. Amen. — WHB