All This Time

All This Time

Sunday we began our Lenten sermon series entitled Wandering Hearts by focusing on Peter’s call story. When Jesus asked his friend Peter to take him fishing and then suggested that Peter go out to the deep water and let down his net, Peter was offended. We probably would be too. Peter saw in Jesus a friend whose trade was carpentry and woodworking, not fishing. He did not, however, see in Jesus, God. Reluctantly he complied, knowing that nothing would happen. After all that time tacking out to the deep water, there would be no fish and he would have to say to his friend Jesus, “See, I told you so.” And it was not until the nets filled with so many fish and the fisherman feared the boat would sink, that Peter realized whom he was standing before. It was not until the other fisherman cheered Peter on and praised him for the big catch that Peter saw Jesus with new eyes. The nets filled with fish because of Jesus. No one could have that kind of power unless he was of God. After all the time they had been friends, Peter looked into the eyes of his carpenter friend Jesus, and finally saw him for who he really was.

How many times have we encountered Jesus, looked him in the eyes and then dismissed him because we were too busy, too important, too distracted? How many times have we missed seeing God because our lives were too full of what, stuff? Poet Rev. Sarah Speed ponders these thoughts in her poem All This Time.

All This Time

I put my headphones in.

I walk quickly.

I look toward the ground.

I create one million barriers of independence,

but still God seeks after me.

God leans a rainbow over the sky.

God sends sun after the rain.

God blankets the earth with wildflowers. God allows music to carry

and laughter to rise,

all so that I might notice.

And when I do notice,

the unfurling that begins in my soul

is slow and holy and burning.

I am not alone.

God has been chasing after me all this time.

As our hearts wander through this Lenten season, may our eyes be opened to our friend, Jesus – God – right in our midst.

Peace,

Josie