God is Not Waldo

Recently I saw a postcard on PostSecret that reminded me of the oft-stated phrase, “I found Jesus…” (fill in the blank).

Now such a statement alludes, generally, to a powerful experience of connecting with God especially in the life of someone who previous did not understand themselves to be in a meaningful relationship with God.

One of my favorite songs about the human condition as it struggles with and searches for God is the song “You Found Me” by The Fray. Now, there are lots of theories out there on the meaning of the song, and even some indications in interviews about what the band though, but I think the words speak to where many people find themselves—crying out to a God who seemed not to show up till it was too late, till the world came crashing down.

Do you remember the Where’sWaldo? books? They’re still out there, but their heyday was a few years ago. The premise is there are pages and pages of tightly packed and busy illustrations of various scenes. And somewhere, in the middle of all that busy-ness, is Waldo, in his signature red and white striped sweater, jeans, and  red and white hat. The goal is to find Waldo. Some illustrations make this more difficult than others.

Many people, and sometimes even we ourselves, view this whole God-and-us-thing like a scene from Where’s Waldo?

Like many illustrations, the Waldo series could probably offer some meaningful lessons for our relationship with God, I’m sure. But on a basic level, it is incorrect to view our lives as one grand search for God.

As United Methodists, those following after the tradition of John Wesley, and indeed, those who seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we worship a God who has never been hiding (Waldo is most certainly hiding!). The point of Where’s Waldo? is to make Waldo hard to find, but still findable (otherwise no one would buy the books).

The thing is, God has always been here. And as United Methodists, we talk about prevenient grace—the grace that comes before. What we mean by this is that before we even opened the book to start searching, God was already here, with us, in front of us, drawing into even the most basic desire to connect with God.

We talk at times of where we meet God—at church, in nature, in the high and low moments of our lives. We may even say we find God here. In many ways there is get power and truth in that.

And yet, we must always, whatever words we use to describe the experience of bumping into God, remember that God was, is, and will always be with us. John Wesley’s final words are said to be, “The best of all is God is with us!” One of Jesus’ most powerful titles (and a word used elsewhere for God in a broader sense) is Emmanuel, which means God with us.

Not God hiding from us.

Not the God in the striped red and white shirt tucked in a static image that makes it difficult to find.

But the God who is with us always, seeking us. Finding us.