Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

God has been active in my life these last few days.   

Perhaps it’s better to acknowledge that I’ve been more cognizant of God’s presence; I suspect God is always active, whether I’m paying attention or not.   

I started last week in a new job as managing editor at Forward Movement. The organization publishes the popular daily devotional, Forward Day by Day, as well as produces content in many forms (electronic, apps, books, pamphlets, etc.), all to the end of strengthening discipleship and supporting evangelism. One of my duties is to seek out writers for our devotionals and for other projects.   

As I skimmed through pitches from prospective writers and read a variety of blog posts, my mind kept coming back to two names. Neither has written for Forward Movement before but their names kept bobbing up.   

I decided to listen and placed the calls.   

Our conversations were remarkably similar. Both had been praying for an answer, a direction for their ministry. One is recently retired, trying to figure out a new path for sharing God’s word. The other has made a major life change and wondering how her gifts of storytelling can best be used in this new space and place.   

Whether it all works out for them to become Forward Movement writers remains to be seen. But in a way, that’s almost beside the point.   

I think God was speaking, placing these names in front of me time and again. I'm sure God does this a lot, but frankly I don’t always listen. Sometimes that still, small voice is prodding me to do something I don’t want to do, to stretch in uncomfortable ways. And too often, I ignore it.   

I’ve always wondered how God speaks to people. Wouldn’t it be nice if God had the rich, booming voice of James Earl Jones? Or maybe there could be a little Sanctus bell ringing before a thought entered my mind, a signal of holy direction, not my own subconscious.   

It would be so much easier if God used attribution when speaking.   

I guess though that's part of faith, that we have to listen a little harder, to be more aware of how God moves and works in our lives. But I believe that sometimes when we respond to the still, small voice, God also whispers an affirmation.