Hi everybody! Thanks for being here. During the month of July I’ve been revisiting and revising a 4-part series from the Woodlands Archives called What We’re Looking For. This is the final installment before I return from vacation. Look for new posts to resume in August. In the meantime, here’s….
To start my last sabbatical, I got out of town for a week. I needed to slow my internal pace, and a change of scenery seemed like a good way to start.
When I told friends I was heading to Portland, they lit up—until I clarified: Oregon, not Maine. They didn’t say anything outright, but their faces said it all: Why would you go there? You won’t find what you’re looking for in that place.
Well, just for the record, I did. But this reflection isn’t about the merits of the Pacific Northwest. It’s about the spiritual destinations we set our hearts on—and whether they can truly satisfy us.
As I’ve discussed throughout this series, a holy longing animates our lives. We’re all on a path toward something we believe will make life meaningful in an enduring way.
Each of us is devoted—whether we know it or not—to reaching what theologian Paul Tillich called our Ultimate Concern. The pressing spiritual question isn’t whether we’ve chosen something evil. It’s this: Have we set our sights too low?
Will our chosen destination truly satisfy our longing—for love, meaning, belonging, and transcendence?
Colossians urges us to aim high:
“If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1–2)
In other words, direct your devotion toward the living God—not a substitute. Not an idol.
An idol is a phony god. It promises to fulfill our deepest longings in exchange for our total devotion. And often, the “earthly things” we give ourselves to aren’t obviously bad. They’re familiar: possessions, power, and status.
Some chase wealth to feel secure. But money can lose value, markets can shift, and enough never feels like enough.
Others seek safety in power. But the more we depend on our strength alone, the more we obsess over threats we can’t control.
And status? That’s applause we have to keep earning. It fades as soon as someone newer, shinier, or louder comes along.
These idols can’t deliver what they promise. They’re fleeting. Finite. And our longing is for something infinite. Something more.
In Christ, the beyond—the infinite—meets us in the midst of our finite lives.
This week, pay attention to the ordinary moments of your day.
A conversation. A meal. A walk. A task at work. Time with family or friends.
At the end of each day, ask yourself:
When did I feel moved today?
What moment stayed with me?
Where might God have been present in those moments?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, open my eyes to your presence in the ordinary moments of my life. Help me to notice where you are at work in the people I meet and the experiences of each day. Amen.
That’s it for now friends. Next week, we’ll be turning to Jesus feeding the multitude. In the meantime, be well and God bless.
Jake
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