"God Sightings" - Lauren Taylor

I remember the first day of Vacation Bible School when I tried to explain what the teaching pamphlet called "God Sightings" to kids. I instructed them on how to watch for God everywhere in their lives and write them down on sticky notes to be posted on the wall. Well today was a day overflowing with these God Sightings. My crew works in a place called Catholic Charities in the mornings, where we create big grocery bags of food to give to those in need. You'd think that those people would be upset and bitter over what they lacked, and a few of them were. But today as we entered the building, we were greeted with a chorus of "Good Morning's" and "Hello's", and I was impressed at their positive attitudes. And it seemed like everywhere we went today, I could feel the Holy Spirit moving in me and in others. As soon as I let go of the fear I was feeling and let God come in, it became much easier to talk to the elderly, work hard without complaining, and serve others in general.
It is amazing to see a city so different from my own, where the beautiful architecture of Balboa Park and powdery sand of Coronado beach coexists with the hundreds of people with signs and shopping carts that line the streets. Actually, It's a perfect metaphor for what I've experienced here in San Diego. In the midst of the poverty and hunger there is hope and joy in the smiling faces of those we've helped. In the middle of our exhausted souls arises beautiful songs of praise. The most unexpectedly amazing things come out of ordinary situations. We've witnessed two stuffed sheep get married, Jesus on the cross sculpted out of sand, a young girl condemning some of the youth to the Devil, (long story) and God working in so many ways to heal the hearts of the hurt and the homeless. God is with us, and he gives us the strength to make it through the week (well...hopefully.)

-Lauren Taylor