You Just Never Know

This morning was just like any other Sunday morning. I was running a little late as I wolfed down my oatmeal, showered and got ready for church. I do not like to be late for worship and this morning, to my surprise, I arrived with enough time to greet a few friends, put my offering check in the envelope and quietly center myself before the service began. From the beginning, for some reason, I felt especially sensitive to what was taking place. The pastor ushered in our moment of silence at the beginning of the service with the perfect simple words, Let us have a moment of silent prayer that we might sense the Spirit of God in our midst. I invited the Holy Spirit to be present with us. Children in red and white robes sang the introit and brought tears to my eyes. It wasnt so much what they were singing that caught my attention, but it was their faces as they sang. They were sweet, innocent and full of joy as some of them waved to their parents in the congregation. As we shared together in the Apostles Creed, again my eyes burned with tiny tears as we said the phrase On the third day He rose from the dead. I felt in love with Jesus. The sermon was one that our church would remember for a long time. It was about Jesus placing mud on the eyes of the man who was blind from birth saying, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. He was healed. The associate pastor spoke passionately about the self-righteous Pharisees who constantly judged others and could not see who Jesus was. Could we be the Pharisees? she asked as she literally spread mud on her face and said, I need Jesus to heal me and help me see others as Gods beloved. In my heart, I agreed that I need Jesus too. As her sermon neared its end, our pastor began to sing Amazing Grace acappella and invited the congregation to join her. Singing angels could not have sounded sweeter than the shy voices of our congregation, without support from the pipe organ, lifting this offering up to God. I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see. I saw emotion on the faces of my fellow congregants, many of whom self-consciously dabbed at their eyes. After the service, people were buoyant! A palpable spirit of joy was evident as people spoke to one another excitedly about the sermon, the music, just the feel of the whole worship experience. On this Fourth Sunday of Lent, God showed up in such a powerful way. It made me think of the first Pentecost when everyone was filled with awe. You never know when the beautifully wild Spirit of God will be set loose among Gods people and all of life is made new. You never know when its going to happen, you just never knowand that is good enough reason to keep waiting and watching.