BUDDY

 

HOW CAN I SAY THERE IS NO GOD?

We were hiking up a strenuous incline recently.  We passed a man who had stopped, we assumed to catch his breath, on his descent.  He spoke to us as he motioned to the valley below saying that there were some Big Horn sheep just beyond sight.  He suggested that we keep an eye out for them as we climbed.  Then, with his staff in hand, he returned his gaze to the valley. 

We progressed up the hillside not giving his advice a second thought. 

On our way back down, a good hour or more later, we came across him again.  He was sitting on a large boulder.  Somewhat excitedly he began a conversation with us.  “Look down into the valley!  There are three grazing Big Horn sheep.  They travel in packs for protection against coyote.  Usually they are in larger groups; never alone.  Here, you can borrow my binoculars if you would like.  I have taken pictures of them on this small camera.  I have taken this camera to Africa.  It takes great pictures….”

Gradually we went from a quick pause along our hike to entering a conversation with this stranger named Buddy as he helped us appreciate the world God placed at our feet.  Without thinking or planning, we were literally invited to stop and witness the miracle of these beautiful creatures and the valley they were grazing in.  Because of Buddy’s joy of nature, wild animals, and hiking, we got a glimpse of God’s vision of the world.  How can I say there is no God?

In a small way, I believe Buddy is living out Jesus’ call in John 13:1-15 for us to be servants to one another; to “wash one another’s feet”.  As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper, so we too are invited to serve others by how we live.  Buddy opened our eyes to beauty.  How has someone “washed your feet” recently?  How have you been the one to serve so that someone proclaimed, “How can I say there is no God?” 

I so much want to be aware of God’s vision of the world and my part in it.  Time and again, to do so requires an openness to the “Buddy’s” that show up unexpectantly in my day-to-day life, and also to be willing to serve others and the world.  I say “yes” to both and I believe because, as the song says, how can I say there is no God?

https://www.andiesisle.com/magnificent/creation_calls.html

Thanks for reading.

Lori

#John13:1-15 #IBelieve #BigHornSheep #CarmodyStateOfMind