There he is!!!!!!!

Matthew 10:1-7

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'"

Years ago my children, Jackie and Benjamin, enjoyed looking for images that were hidden or camouflaged in books. Two of their favorites were "Where's Waldo?" and "Where's Goldbug?" Waldo was always somewhere in a crowd of people ... a fair, a circus, a busy city street. His environment was "busy"....it took time to find him because there were always so many interesting things going on around him. Goldbug was a small insect (bright yellow/gold of course!) woven into the action of a Richard Scarry story. It didn't matter what was going on -- a seashore scene....a forest adventure...outer space.... Goldbug was always there. It just took patience and a curious eye to find him.

I remember the enthusiastic anticipation of the children when we'd turn the page of the book to reveal a new scene. No surprise, there was always a certain amount of competition...who would find Waldo or Goldbug first and be able to point to the place on the page and say "There he is!!!!!!!"

In the pages of human experience the children of God walk through the world pointing to the kingdom of heaven which is near. Often there is so much going on that is distracting or diverting...it may take a practiced eye to discover the presence of still, small, gentle murmurs of God's loving spirit.

Patiently, faithfully gaze at wherever you are....do you see the outbreaking joy, peace and love of God? It is near!