where is god?

since i've been back from slovakia, my journaling has taken on a new form.  instead of meticulously listing everything that happened, everything i did, and everything i felt each day, i've taken to writing down where i recognize god each day.  monday was a particularly interesting day, so i thought i'd share it with you (with a bit of elaboration, perhaps).

god is not just in my call (to ministry), but god is calling me to ministry at the margins.  god has been opening the doors to opportunities for growth and stretching in my classes and activities as well as sustaining me when i need new/more strength.

• not only in this past year, but throughout the past few years, I have been privileged to have a variety of experiences and meet a variety of people at the margins of society, whether that is in the queer (lgbtiq) community or working with roma (gypsies) in slovakia, even to this year's classes and groups and people i've met.  god continues to guide me and open me up to new opportunities to follow god's call.

god is always in smitha - her joy and *smile* (smitha means smile) and her generous hospitality.  the spontaneous invitation to tea today was a wonderful escape out of my thoughts.

• on my way back from monday's class, i ran into smitha who invited me in for some tea.  she is such a joy to spend time with.  today, in fact, i asked her to come out and play with me in the snow, so she and her two boys came to play with us in the snow.  we made snow angels (smitha's first ever, since she is from southern india) and then helped as my seminary classmates and friends tried to recreate a snow tower of babel.  overall, it was just a joyful time and i truly am blessed in the time i spend with her.

god was in the civil rights movement.  the film we watched today (from montgomery to memphis) showed actual footage of the movement.  i had heard about fire hoses being used, but i hadn't yet seen the ease with which they knocked people down - or the police dogs.  god was in every drop of blood and every tear shed that the arc of the moral universe might keep bending toward justice.

• while the arc of the moral universe continues to bend and has not reached its end, we are so much closer to that end because of the dangerous and deadly work done during the civil rights era.  as i witness the injustices around me and learn ever more of the sacrifices people have made for the sake of love and justice, i continue to be amazed and inspired.  nowadays there are many ways to be an active citizen of the us and of the world, whether it's through voting, petitioning, or protesting.  yet, sadly, so many people are apathetic.  perhaps it's because they have witnessed too much corruption in governments or because they haven't yet seen the effects of racism, sexism, heterosexism, able-ism, or any of the many and varied systemic forms of oppression at work in the world.  whatever the case, it is tragic and needs to be changed.  the only way to improve or change anything is to engage with it.  to seek out information and answers.  to ask questions and listen, really listen to the answers.  then take action.  if we can take action together to live lives in solidarity with each other, then we will be able to keep the arc of the moral universe bending towards justice.