Lent Photos 2013 - Day 24 - Find
You never know what you will find and where you will find it. Scripture speaks in many ways on this ranging from the person who is surprised to find the Kingdom of God in unique places and represented in unique ways to Jesus' words about seeking and finding (Matthew 7:7). The story of Elijah running for his life also reflects this - as Elijah is in a mountain cave, the word of the Lord is found in a unique form...1 Kings 19...
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Today's picture is definitely not on the same "seriousness" level as the above, but it represents something of the ways that we can be surprised at how we will find God. I took this picture today at a book signing at a local childrens' bookstore called The Blue Manatee. On one wall of their cafe are a bunch of pictures of a plush manatee showing up in some unique places. Just as God often does. We do not always find God in the places we most expect.
