In living out my conversion as a daily and lifelong process, I treasure most the example of my grandmother Totten, who dwelled in one marriage, one home, one church congregation for over sixty years. Her faith was alive for anyone to see; her life demonstrates that conversion is no more spectacular than learning to love the people we live with and work among. It does not mean seeking out the most exotic spiritual experience, or the ideal religion, the holiest teachers who will give us the greatest return on our investment. Conversion is seeing ourselves, and the ordinary people in our families, our classrooms, and on the job, in a new light. Can it be that these very people--even the difficult, unbearable ones--are the ones God has given us, so that together we might find salvation? Taking a good look at myself and the people I live and work with, I might assume that God is foolish indeed. I might also begin to have an awe-inspiring glimpse into the uncomfortable implications of Paul's exhortation to the Philippians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).
Let us walk in the holy presence.
rain on the lake
