“We must also keep our eyes open for the saints of our own culture. Their witness will be close enough to our concerns, or what should be our concerns, to leave us uncomfortable with our spiritual compromises.”

Charles Hoffacker

I’ve always had a little trouble believing that the Jesus of the Gospels noticed the extraordinary behavior of ordinary people just so biblical scholars, historians and pastors could spend 2000 years debating, dissecting, and applying the latest critical methods to find the ‘deeper’ truths in these stories. 

I think Jesus had something different in mind when he called his followers to notice courageous women, faithful friends, sacrificing widows, compassionate Samaritans, and contrite tax gatherers. I believe he was modeling a dynamic way of living for us all—living with eyes attuned to spotting the heart of God in the routines and interactions of our everyday lives.

With this in mind, rather than asking the popular question, ‘What would Jesus do?’  I beckon us all to start asking the question, ‘What did Jesus notice?’  Asking this question helps us embrace the lens through which Jesus viewed the life surrounding him.  By attempting to see through this lens ourselves, we can begin to live in an awareness of the living parables that dance before us everyday.  This sacred spotting will challenge, inspire, convict and move us closer to God’s likeness.      

So go to the ordinary places of this world—our jobs, our neighborhoods, our laundry mats, our playgrounds—renouncing our blindness because of our commitment to live in the awareness that God’s presence can be found…if we choose to notice.    

Peace, Bruce Main