In our Midst

One day my son came downstairs in our house and went into the kitchen to get himself a bowl of cereal. He had no idea I was in the front room quietly reading something on my smartphone. He poured his milk and reached to grab a spoon. At that moment, I simply said, “Hello.” Startled, he jumped back from the silverware drawer and let out a scream. He would tell this story differently, but it certainly was a scream. He clutched his chest as if he had just seen a ghost. All I wanted to do was say hello.

We have all been startled by someone when we thought we were all alone. Sometimes that person in our midst was simply quiet and hidden from our view. Other times, we simply have our head and mind in the clouds to the point we are ignoring the fact we are not alone.

At times that person we don’t see is Jesus. He might seem quieter some days, but he should never be hidden from our view. He is always there with us, in others, and sharing our everyday moments. When we fail to see him in our midst, it is easy to act in ways we wouldn’t if we saw him directly in front of us. We become less giving and more self-centered. No one wants to be surprised one day when suddenly they realize they were not alone, especially if the one who startles us is our God.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS