Experiencing God (and I don’t mean the workbook - not that there’s anything wrong with it)

December 14, 2008

 I want to put a question to you, my gentle readers – Do you experience God?

If you do – and I hope you do – where (and how) do you experience His presence?

I am asking because I have been visiting various churches lately and I have met some nice people and I have heard some good sermons – but I haven’t experienced God in those churches, and I doubt anyone else did either.

But I was at really great concert the other day – and I’m pretty sure some folks  experienced God there.  Today I overheard a conversation between two people who agreed that running in the woods on a cold afternoon is a sure way to be with God.  Last week, I sat in a quiet hospital room not doing much of anything, and I think I experienced God there.

A longing for the Holy, for the presence of God, is part of being human.   This experience is what the church should offer – but do we?  We can teach you a lot about the Bible and Christian history, we can serve great coffee, we can involve you in lots of good projects, but can we give you an experience of God?

So if you are a church person – Do you experience God there?

If you are not a church person – How do you experience God?