What Does God Look Like?

A year ago, nature swept an EF3 tornado through the Sullivan, Indiana countryside, and town, killing five people and destroying many homes. Restoration is still in progress. Where do we find the face of God in troubled times?

Elijah faced dire circumstances, tired and exhausted

“So He [God] said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks 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. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””- 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NASB)

The damage

Many in the area couldn’t afford home insurance. They were at the mercy of the goodness of God, reflected in the many who would help. The tornado completely swept away the house we worked on. The owner had just finished remodeling a day before the tornado. He depleted his savings and was struggling to make progress due to lack of money and help.

Where do we look for help?

We think enormous problems require enormous solutions. We look to the government, insurance, savings, and other powerful services to help resolve our problems. Not that we shouldn’t. But we shouldn’t forget the Aesop’s Fable, The Bundle of Sticks reminds us that none of us can break a bundle of sticks, but each person can break a stick until they are all broken.

The crews

Amish workers put on the roof in a few brief hours days prior to our arrival.

Other volunteers helped the homeowner erect the shell of the home.

In our group, eight youth and five adults, including two airline pilots, an author (me), and three youth leaders, comprised the workers. Three were in their seventies. The youth were to do most of the actual work on this mission trip, but the adults did plenty of work.

A group of Mennonite women and youth came in to help.

Three local contractors contributed off and on as unpaid volunteers.

The homeowner was there the first day to get us started and help.

The hospitality of the area was overflowing!

I love it when various religious groups and others in the community find ways to work together. This is the best face of God.

Other contributors

Gratefully appreciate:

The United Methodist Church provided eating and sleeping quarters in their church.

The Baptists provided a shower trailer. We absolutely needed showers in that heat and work. This was often the highlight of the day.

The local organizer of restoration provided a pizza meal for us on Sunday evening.

The Catholic Church provided one dinner on Monday. They regularly feed around 300 local people each week to help with poverty.

Tuesday the United Methodists provided a chicken dinner for us.

A local financial advisor supplied a pizza dinner on Wednesday.

The Presbyterian Church provided an evening meal on Thursday. They regularly feed around 150 local people each week to help with poverty.

The local pool, thanks to the mayor, opened its doors to us for a swim.

FEMA and local emergency groups provided funding for materials.

Our Church generously contributed to many of these efforts.

The work

The heat was intense. The summer heatwave had not abated, and the humidity was very high. We endured sweltering temperatures the entire time, exhausting work, but on Wednesday, the rain arrived and cooled things off some. We got around six hours of sleep a night. The youth likely got less sleep because they get on their phones at night.

With youthful vigor, our group put drywall onto the walls of several rooms and then put drywall mud on the walls. The inexperienced youth cooperated with each other, didn’t grumble except about being tired, and did amazing work. They embraced their mission and were enjoyable to work with. I am so proud of each of them. The adults showed them how to do the work and supervised, but they also did some of the work.

My wife went about the critically important task of making sure the youth took breaks and stayed hydrated. It’s very easy for people to pass out or become injured in this heat. As usual, she thought she did nothing. As for me, I applied quickset mud to fill in the gaps and damage, since I have that experience of working fast. I also assisted where needed.

It was our privilege to serve others and to learn new skills. Our hardships were nothing compared to theirs.

The fun

After working long hours in the heat, somehow the youth still had the energy to do sports and other fun activities. The adults almost had the energy to watch, although one 75-year-old seem to have the same vitality as them.

The youth put on a play they had a few minutes to practice. They were great!

Great power is in little things

What does God look like? Not a face or someone sitting on a throne. God’s physical beauty is in creation, not a face. God’s natural beauty is reflected in the many faces of those who do as God asks of us, demonstrating God’s love for all through their deeds and love. The still small voice that compels us.

Love isn’t something we can see or measure. It may be very tiny, but it’s the most powerful force in the universe. It’s represented in the still, small voice that speaks to us not in words but in feelings that compel us to do for others what we would do for ourselves.

Conclusion

We want to see God portrayed in an image. We’re warned in the Bible not to create images of God. We know God by what God asks of us: love. Certainly, the image of Jesus suffering on the cross (or empty cross portraying eternal life), makes God more human and approachable, and demonstrates God’s forgiveness of our shortcomings. We need to feel God understands our needs, loves us, and isn’t a far-off non-participant in our lives.

Nature is a primal force, created by God to form and maintain the earth we live on. Nature is a beautiful force that provides us with the food we eat, air we breathe, sunshine to empower growth, and water and nutrients for crops, and enjoyment. We live in symbiosis with nature. Oxygen isn’t present without the trees and other vegetation converting the carbon dioxide we exhale into oxygen. We only have a few days of oxygen without them. But nature also destroys.

A lesson I asked each of them to remember is that most of us can do anything if we keep trying. No matter what life throws at us, we can achieve very difficult things.

God provides the gift of others to help us through dark times.

The earliest instructions in Judaism reflect the God of love. “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” – Leviticus 19:18

The prophet Micah said, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8

Jesus affirmed these things and showed us how to do it.

Probability Space

What probability spaces can we open in our minds to better reflect the love of God? As Christians, we’re not known for our beliefs, but for our deeds. What opportunities are around us to show love?

Potential Space

If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander, where can you see God?

________________________

–           Dorian

Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.

Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy.

Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.

Author and books

Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love.

The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.

Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.

Author Website: Dorian Scott Cole