I can honestly say I had never celebrated Epiphany before, but this year as we at Kairos have spent time focusing on the revelation of Jesus to the world, I have noticed that while there are many examples throughout the Old and New Testament of God using and working in the lives of unlikely people, Epiphany is reinforcing the truth that God alsoappears in unlikely ways. This season has inspired me to ask myself, “How has God appeared to me?” And very often the answer to that question has been, when I listen deeply to others.
This past fall, the opportunity to listen to the stories and life experiences of members of the Kairos community and childcare team during our Be The Bridge book discussions was hugely impactful; listening to the voices in that room was convicting, challenging, encouraging, and illuminating. I believe that God’s heart, nature, and work in the world were revealed in those conversations, and when I remember our times of community prayer or our Thanksgiving service when people share their gratitude for the work God has done in their lives, I feel how integral sharing these stories of faith is to our community. My hope is that one of the ways we will recognize God in the world is in the voices and lives of the people at Kairos. We want to make an intentional space for God to speak to our congregation through, perhaps, unexpected people and in unexpected ways. Our hope is to continue to expand our vision of what is being revealed about God’s nature, and how God is appearing to us.
Drew’s exhortation from the first Sunday of Epiphany to expectantly look for Jesus in the world, is an invitation to faithfully share your gifts with Jesus and the body of Christ. It would be a blessing for your church family to hear, see, or experience how God has been revealed in your life. If you have a story, song, poem, painting, prayer, or any other way to share how you have sensed God in the world, you are invited to share the gift of that revelation with Kairos. Let us look for Jesus expectantly in the world and in each other.
– Jarrett Jackson
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