Micah 4:12

"They do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand God's plan."
 
Reflection by Ron Buford

I was taught that righteousness is simply having a "right" perspective and acceptance about one's relationship with God and one's fellow creatures and creation, and one's powers and limitations. Such perspective does not come from ordinary human knowledge alone but through attentiveness to life's "holy moments" amid the mundane and the frightening. Such attentiveness reveals things we do not know, precisely when we need to know them. Such light and revelation, coupled with human knowledge, is the Stillspeaking God continuing creation.

We may not always know God's "thoughts" or understand God's "plan."  At times, we ask God, "What's going on? Why?"

But as we remember past victories, some a long time coming, they become midwives birthing increased faith from the womb of our being. Pilots learn to trust instruments that guide them through clouds by flying.  Just so, we remember to trust God’s presence, persevering through challenging times. Despite travail, we deliver. Despite turbulence, we arrive.

The hope of the righteous is that no matter how things look right now, God's realm will certainly come, for us, our children, and for the world. Somehow our work, our presence in creation, our lives by the grace of Almighty God will have been for a blessing. We may not live to see it, but it will be so in the midst of our weakness, unbelief, and imperfection. God is faithful, holding us, never letting us go because we belong to God. Believe it!

Prayer

Gracious God, Thank you for the confidence we have in Your Presence and that we belong, body and soul, in life and in death, to you. Amen.

About the Author Ron Buford is Interim Minister for Discipleship at Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts. The former coordinator of the UCC's God is still speaking campaign, Ron consults with UCC conferences and churches across the nation and appears in the DVD-based progressive theology series, Living the Questions 2.0.

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