Excerpt from Psalm 46

"God is in that city...God will help it when morning dawns."

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

Some folks don't have much use for cities and don't think God does either. Cities are too big, too messy, too . . . much. God dwells, we imagine, in green pastures and amid soaring mountains. Personally, I think God likes both, both city and country.

In the week before I entered Union Seminary in New York City, on a bright September day, I was standing on the corner of 110th and Broadway. A recent arrival from Oregon, I was agog. The crowds of people speaking all the languages of the world swirled around me. The cabbies honked and shouted. The fruitstand owners hawked their wares. Buskers laid down a sound track.

Then a voice whispered in my ear, "Where's God in all this?" The clear implication of the question, or perhaps the tone in which it was asked, was that no self-respecting deity would have anything to do with this mess, with the noise, the crowds, the colors and hub-bub.

I would have pretended that I hadn't heard her question, but since I was soon to be a seminary student I felt sort of duty bound to respond to such an obviously theological question. I thought for a moment, then lifted my arms as if in embrace and said, "God? Why God is in all of this."

My whispering interrogator vanished. I later learned the young woman was an emissary of Rev. Moon and his Unification Church, out trolling for the bewildered.

I take no credit for my affirmation of God's presence in the messiness and delight of the city. It had been taught to me by my church, Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, which had taught me that life is the good gift of God and that God dwells among us, even, or perhaps especially, in the teeming, tawdry, bruised-but-blessed and beautiful city. 

Prayer

Praise be to you O God for cities, and for all churches that serve faithfully and joyfully in the midst of them. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Stewardship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

The Daily Devotional is now on Facebook. Become a fan!

Sign up to receive Daily Devotionals

More items written by the Stillspeaking Writers' Group