ET, Las Vegas, God, and the Ordinary

Recently while my family and I were on a continuing education/vacation trip I experienced two “ET: The Extraterrestrial” moments, one at the Grand Canyon and one at a buffet in Las Vegas.  For those who may not know the story or have forgotten the plot of this 1982 movie the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) describes it like this, “A meek and alienated little boy finds a stranded extraterrestrial. He has to find the courage to defy the authorities to help the alien return to its home planet.”  The American Film Institute in 2007 voted it as the 24^th best film of all time.  When the movie first came out many people were captivated by it, said it was a tremendous movie, went around saying the line “E.T. phone home”, and recommended it to their friends.  By the time I saw it in August of 1982 the expectations I had for the movie were extremely high.  I came out of the movie disappointed.  “ET” is a very good movie, but I was expecting something more, what I am not sure, but the movie did not knock my socks off. 

            In a similar way my first view of the Grand Canyon just east of the visitor’s center did not impress me as much as I was expecting or had hoped it would.  I had heard so much about it that when I finally saw the Grand Canyon it underwhelmed me.  I am not saying it was not awesome or impressive, but it was not as awe inspiring as I thought it would be.  I even told Carolyn that I thought the Badlands in South Dakota were more inspiring/interesting.  As for the buffet in Las Vegas I had heard about how good the ones at the hotels were, and we tried one for lunch.  The buffet at Old Country Buffet has better food.  We all were highly disappointed.

            As I have reflected on these “ET” moments I have wondered how many people have experienced God and been underwhelmed because they are expecting something else?  How many times have people been in the presence of the Lord, receiving messages of hope, assurance, comfort, or something else but not really seeing or hearing because the gifts are God’s gifts and expectations and not the ones we have envisioned or expected?  How many times has faith waned because we are underwhelmed at the supposed absence of the wonders of God?  Do we cheat ourselves of experiencing a wonder God has for us because it does not live up to what we think an experience with the Lord should be?  Are we always expecting a mountaintop experience without realizing that wonderful things are in the valleys and plateaus? 

            I was awed later in my visit of the Grand Canyon when I went west of the visitor’s center.  It was still my first time at the canyon and still the same day as when I first saw the canyon.  I kept an open mind and hoped that what I envisioned would be made sight.  It was.  I was in awe of the Grand Canyon at some of the overlooks, and in awe of what God created through the power of nature.  I was also in awe at a rest area in western Colorado, at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies, and just driving through the country.  Some of the best times of the trip took place when we stopped at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD and at Seligman, AZ on Route 66.  Both of these places have attractions that can be called cheesy, and yet looking back I would be upset if we had not taken the time to do some attractions that many would say were not worth stopping to see.
            Where have you seen God in the ordinary?

           Blessings,

Pastor Dave