Through the Waters
About this blog
Through the Waters is the blog of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Christian vocation ministries. Because the ministry of Christian vocation affirms the need for all baptized Christians – including Presbyterians - to identify and claim their call to discipleship in each decision and life choice, this blog is designed to serve as a resource for youth and young adults, as well as those in ministry with them, to assist the Holy Spirit in God’s movement in this journey through the waters. Take some time to read and think about your own responses to the questions posed here. For additional resources, we suggest that you visit our website.
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On Notice!
Driving into our neighborhood you can’t help but notice suspicious, almost prying, eyes looking at you. They reside on the light posts, looking down at you; checking you out. They’re rather creepy. Some days I can ignore them. Other days, they’re glaring at me and I can’t avoid them.
The eyes do not belong to a strange homeowner, though; they serve as a reminder from the Neighborhood Watch: the group of people on the street who have committed to paying attention to the happenings in order to avoid suspicious or even criminal behavior. Some of those signs even include the phrase, “You’re being watched!” These signs, with their warning message, have always felt a little threatening to me. And, well, I guess that’s part of the point.
Recently, though, I received an email forward that didn’t include those eyes but with the subject line “NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH,” it certainly could have. That first line was all in caps and based on my experiences, I expected to open a warning message about a robbery or maybe an assault. I was already anxious, ready to be on high alert.
It wasn’t until I opened the message that I read the rest of the opening line, “NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH – Sand Hill cranes and new Baby.” The message had been forwarded to me from relatives who live near a small lake in the city. The Neighborhood Watch was making the residents aware that the Sand Hill crane pair had hatched a new baby and the threesome had been spotted around the area. Someone took the time to point out that within the busy, ordinary events that surround us; a new life had been born. The email recipients were being asked to notice.
This short message reminded me that those glaring eyes that have felt so threatening and had been serving as reminders of the occasionally dangerous world in which we live, could also remind me to notice the world around me. My own eyes could be used to pay attention to God’s presence. And there is much to notice!
Take some time to go beyond simply looking and begin to notice. Noticing, itself, can be a spiritual practice.
What seem to be the major differences between “looking” and “noticing?”
Think about a time that you truly paid attention and noticed something significant. What would have changed if you had only been looking?
God is continually moving in our lives. Where and how have you noticed God’s movement lately?
Participate in your own “neighborhood watch.” What do you notice?
- Posted at 3:31 p.m.
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