Looking for the image of God in each other – By Bishop G

Looking for the image of God in each other – By Bishop G

Dear Friends,

I came across a wonderful little video a few years ago. It begins with a businessman going about his usual day. Things don’t start out well and get worse. He starts to pull out of the driveway and almost runs over a child on a bike. He gets to his favorite coffee outlet, but a woman steals his parking place. In line, the man in front of him places an order for his entire office building. When he finally gets to the counter, he’s told it will be a few minutes because they have to brew a fresh batch.

He sits in a corner, seething in frustration, and a strange person walks up hands him a pair of sunglasses, and then disappears. Confused, the businessman puts the glasses on and suddenly little thought bubbles, appear above everyone’s head. By reading the thought bubble, he can see what’s really going on in everyone else’s head.

The woman who cut him off is distracted because her child is sick. The man who placed the huge coffee order is worried about a medical diagnosis he just received. The barista is struggling with addiction. And finally, returning home a bit shaken, he sees the child again with a bubble above his head which says, “Just need someone who cares.” So, the man gets out of his car and walks over to help the boy fix his bike.

How would we treat each other if we could really see what was in everyone’s bubble? I believe that all the walls and distance we place between ourselves and others would disappear. After all, we worship a God who was not content to look down upon us from some safe haven light years away. We follow a Savior who gets down, right down on the same level with those in the deepest pain, with those who have nothing left.  

Sometime back, I worshiped with the Abbey worshipping community at their most recent home at Zion Springs Baptist Church in Avondale on an All Saints Sunday. We gathered with the neighborhood children to celebrate the day with teaching and pizza. The children sat on blankets in the parking area, as the Reverend Katie Rengers and I talked with them about the “Saints.”

We showed them several large icon-like pictures of Jesus, Saint Francis, Saint Theresa, Martin Luther King and others. “Tell us who this is?” We asked as we flashed the pictures. The children thought every picture looked like “Jesus”. At first it was amusing as they answered Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. But on reflection, I realized the little children’s brilliant wisdom. 

The world looks different when I begin seeing each person I see or meet as a reflection of our Lord. When I can look for the image of God in someone, I will always bring more grace to the encounter. In a world struggling with war, hunger, sickness, poverty, sin, and death, I want to remember that we’re all God’s children. 

When I see people in trouble, whether friends, enemies, or strangers, I pray I’ll remember we are all God’s children, created, forgiven, redeemed, and loved by Jesus Christ. And nothing we can do can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

May we pray that God will give us enlightened hearts so that we may know the hope to which Jesus has called us, and we may, with grace, testify to that hope by sharing the love of Jesus the best we can with the world. God has blessed us with everything we need to love and serve.

 I hope I see you at church!

Blessings,

Bishop G.