god hunting, part 5: back to the river

“You call me out upon the waters,
     The great unknown where feet may fail
     And there I find you in the mystery…” 
           from “Oceans” by Joel Houston, Matt Crocker and 
                                      Salomon Lighthelm of Hillsong UNITED

The practice of “The God Hunt” has changed my life, my story and my resilience when things get really tough.  I’ve been training for so long, and finding God in the midst of really difficult days.  Because (and this is most important) HE WANTS TO BE FOUND.  He LOVES to be found.  In finding HIM we find that He has been pursuing us all the time.  This is key to RESILIENCE.  To know that God will not leave us alone.  

I come back to the river rafting trip of 1997.  I needed a cook for that trip….someone to buy the food, to organize all the campers into work teams (another bonding time for teenagers and adults) and with the teams’ help, to prepare all the meals.  I asked my prayer partner to pray with me for a cook.  At the end of our prayer time, Monica looked at me and said, “I could be your cook.”  God sighting!  God had spoken to her heart.   She had ably performed this role for adult retreats in the past, had a delightful time with the kids (which she didn’t expect) and, as one of my dear friends, was a tremendous encouragement to me on the weekend.  

Later, talking about the trip, Monica said, “A river trip is a great metaphor for life.  You get into God’s boat, you get knocked around a bit, and you come out on the other end.”  That’s RESILIENCE. 

American author David James Duncan once wrote, “I had been taught by rivers and wilderness that if you trust that gifts are coming to you, you become sensitive to what’s being given.”  God hunters are expectant.  God hunters spot God at work because they know how to hunt. 

Now, here are my questions for you:  Have you seen any obvious answers to prayer, any unexpected evidence of His care, any help to do God’s work in the world, or any unusual linkage or timing?  If so, then you’ve spied God at work in your life.  What a gift!

Love, Liz

“The God Hunt is one of the correctives for our lost wonder and delight.  It is the way…. he cries out to us, “Did you catch that?  Were you looking?  You can’t believe what I’m about to do next!”                                            Karen Mains, “The God Hunt”