December 29, 2012 What does God look like?

"What does God look like?"  Jesse scanned the young men, and the not so young ones, around the circle and asked the question again.  "What does God look like to you?"  The three boys and three men, myself and eldest son included, pondered, looking down at shoes or around at the beautiful surroundings, not making eye contact with Mr. Jesse. 

We'd traveled from the Triad to Hyde county, nearly six hours if you count a stop at Smithfield's to scarf down chicken and BBQ, for Cross Trail Outfitter's Annual Deer Hunt.  At each CTO event a question is asked that gives participants something to contemplate throughout the day.  And study on it I did.  

The first thing that popped into mind was when Moses asked to see the Lord (Exodus 33).  And then there was creation.  Genesis one says "God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God he created them;  male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27)  What about Jesus? "..the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)  Then I considered ways I'd experienced or seen God in my own life.  Being in the delivery room for the birth of our five children, witnessing countless  sunrises and sunsets, watching God heal family members or friends, seeing the Father redeem broken marriages.  After forty years on this planet the list is quite extensive.

Back to this weekend and to Mr. Jesse's question. In Hyde County I got to see God in another way.  I had the privilege of watching a stranger, CTO State Director, Mike Johnson, love on a group of boys, including my son, share his personal testimony in numerous ways, mentor budding outdoorsmen and pour his very life into each young man present.  What a great example!  Humility.  Hospitable.  Kindness.  Patience.  Selflessness.  Joy.  Love.  I think maybe that's exactly what God looks like. 

CTO's Mike Johnson with my son, J., and his first deer.