God is always with us, no matter what. There isn’t a single season, circumstance, or area of life where he isn’t already there—sometimes subtly, sometimes clearly, but always faithfully.
I’ve been thinking about that fact lately. And that made me wonder: What if his presence might be seen in something as commonplace as a word? One word, or possibly several randomly selected. Nothing polished or pre-selected. This is only a small test of listening and looking for God’s fingerprints.
So I took out the dictionary, turned the pages, placed my finger down, and closed my eyes. Curious to see what could appear, I repeated this a few times.
I’ll now present the findings to you and ask your opinion. I’ll give you the words first. But before you read what they made me feel, I encourage you to take a moment to think about each one and see what it might make you feel.
Whoa. It’s unbelievable. Relativism was the first term I took from the dictionary. Initially, it seems like a lofty scientific phrase associated with Einstein’s theory of relativity, which holds that time, space, and even light itself can alter based on the viewpoint of the observer. But when I gave it more thought, this word revealed a more profound spiritual truth.
In a sense, the existence of God in the universe is relativistic. He is not constrained by time, location, or human perspective. God is continuous and transcends all frames of reference, even if our feelings may fluctuate and alter from one moment feeling close to him to another. Similar to how light always travels at the same pace regardless of who is seeing, God’s love is continuous and ever-present everywhere.
The universe revealed by relativity is much larger and more interwoven than we frequently think. And every moment and molecule is intricately intertwined with God, the creator of everything. His grace is unwavering, constant, and always close, even when life seems hazy or relative.
Alright, in the category of “I can’t believe it,” we’re two for two. Cocobolo is the second word. Definition: a tropical American tree with hard, dark wood that is streaked with light; this tree’s wood is frequently used to make cabinets. I have never heard this word before in my life.
But when I considered cocobolo, it seemed like the ideal metaphor for how God creates us. We are formed over time, with light and dark streaks interwoven, and are fashioned with strength and beauty, much like cocobolo wood. As the Master Carpenter, God patiently shapes us into the powerful, distinctive, and meaningful being he wants.
Ah, at last! One term I use on a daily basis is object.
It appears to be a straightforward object that you can see, touch, or indicate. However, from a spiritual standpoint, it serves as a reminder that we are more than simply insignificant objects in the cosmos. We were made with the intention of reflecting the love and image of God.
Life might occasionally make us feel like insignificant things that are ignored, shifted, or taken for granted. However, God does not view us as objects to be used or thrown away. He views each of us as a special part of his larger scheme, like to a cherished child.
Therefore, keep in mind that you are an indispensable creature in God’s sight, created with purpose and cherished in his heart, regardless of whether you feel like an object caught up in the everyday grind or someone looking for significance.
The small word trip for today finishes there. Although I was already aware of it, I have recently come to believe that God is constantly there, even in our seemingly random times. Perhaps when we wish to marvel at this idea once more in the future, we will do this.
In the interim, I encourage you to reflect on how God’s presence permeates all aspect of our life, even at seemingly insignificant times. To find out what God wants to show you, consider opening your own dictionary or, better yet, your Bible.
Sallie Rose Hollis, an assistant director of the News Bureau and an associate professor of journalism at Louisiana Tech, retired and now resides in Ruston. Her email address is [email protected].
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