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You Won't Find God in Target

The holiday season is upon us, and as we search for presents, I hope we remember what's at the heart of our searching; a higher power that won't be found stacked on the shelves of Target. 

What are we actually looking for when we are looking for God? Maybe, we just want to say that we don't have the answers. We need help.

I’ve been searching for God lately.  I’ve looked everywhere. Scrolled for God on my phone. Googled God on the internet. Shopped for God in Target. Listened for God in Taylor Swift’s lyrics. Watched for God in every practice, every play, every game. Read for God in the bible. I've told myself that I'll find God in a new job, new relationship or new place. 

I know it sounds ridiculous. But it's true. I've wandered aimlessly around Target looking for something greater only to realize that the thing I'm looking for can't be found in Target.  I'm looking for inspiration, meaning, connection, purpose, holiness, sacredness. I'm looking for help. I'm looking for God.

I used to imagine God as some big, almighty thing, but lately, I think maybe God is much simpler than that.  God is something more honest, pure, and true; and the truest, most honest, pure thing feels like acknowledging the fact that I am looking for God. I'm looking for something greater because I need something greater.  Greater than my own understanding and power. More than hope, I'm looking for help because life is hard.  

The search for God isn’t about finding God but about acknowledging our need for there to be a God; acknowledging our vulnerability and meekness in a world that constantly tells us to lean on our own intellect, wealth and power. 

This holiday season, let yourself look for God - and when you don’t immediately find God on the shelves of Target, remind yourself that God and grace lives in the humility that leads to the looking - the realization that we need God. We need help. We need each other.



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