God often speaks to us in quiet ways, like the whisper Elijah heard. When has God spoken to you in a whisper? Do you have quiet space and time in your life to hear a whisper?

"Our God is a walking God,” in the words of a spiritual. Where does such an idea come from? On one level, it obviously means just what it says: God is on the move. We don’t believe in a static Deity who rested on the seventh day and hasn’t budged since. God is in motion, and the people of God are therefore pilgrims and sojourners on the road to a better day.

As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

The first time I volunteered during the pandemic, I was afraid. It was only a couple weeks into my state’s stay-at-home order, and no one knew how much the virus had spread yet, or how much damage it would do.

Have you ever tried to teach someone to swim? That was part of my job description when I was a camp counselor back in high school. Some of the kids took to the water like little otters, slipping and swooshing around and having a ball. Others sank like the sand-filled milk bottles we used as anchors for the camp rowboats.

We all have someone in our lives whom we think walks on water because of something he or she did for us or a loved one: the teacher who finally got through; the doctor who saved a life; the cop who came to the rescue; the counselor who helped turn things around; the friend who lent a helping hand; the lawyer who restored a good name; the neighbor with a generous spirit; the foe with a forgiving heart.

Saving Lord, truly you are the Son of God. Reach out to us your merciful hand.

It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness. He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you.