Finding God

"People see God every day, they just don't recognize him." ~Pearl Bailey

Growing up, my mom frequently said, "You can find God in a lot of different churches." I always liked that thought....and followed it. I'm just as comfortable praying a Hail Mary at a Rosary or the Our Father at a Catholic Mass as I am kneeling on a communion rail at a Methodist Church as I am singing and clapping my hands at a non-denominational church. I consider myself a bit of a church mutt.

In college, I remember at one point that I would go to a great Bible Study with a group of girls from an Assembly of God church on Tuesday night, then would go to a great class at the Catholic Church on Wednesday night, a small group for my non-denominational church on Thursday night, (the bar on Friday and Saturday night...might be another story), and then to work in the nursery and attend church at the non-denomination chruch on Sunday. The beauty of this was that honestly felt like I encountered God---and different facets of Him---in each place.

And even more than that, becuase of these different churches, I've been blessed with friendships with people of such diverse faiths, all of whom inspire me, and encourage me to grow in my own faith, albiet somewhat different than their own. In being witness to their faith, their actions, and their beliefs, I have grown in my own.

The Catholic friend who constantly prays Novenas and is always willing to talk through any moral or religious issue. And the Mormon friend who spent two years of his life on a mission teaching about the faith that he beleives, who now, along with his wife, teaches three year olds in their ward every Sunday. The friend who leads praise and worship and several women's Bible studies for an Assembly of God church. And, of course, the ladies of my small group who constantly pray for anyone and everyone who they can think of and emailed me making this statement about retirement, "I so believe that God's will at this time in my life is to spend time praying for needs I know about and it is my joy to do so." God put these people in my life--each one different, yet each such an important example.

And so, I think my mom only had it part right. You can find God in a lot of different churches. But more importantly, I think you can find God in a lot of different people. And for that--for them--I am grateful.