Encounter
En-coun-ter (verb)
- To have or experience (problems, difficulties, etc.)
- To meet (someone) without expecting or intending to
(Merriam-Webster online dictionary)
Think about how many different people and things we encounter in life: friends, strangers, teachers, new ideas, stores, websites, foods, drinks, weather, sports, surprises, tragedies, boredom, excitement, etc., etc. Essentially, just as life can be described as a search, it can also be described as encounter. We experience so many different things, often without expecting to. No matter how well we can plan our day, there are always new occurrences that we can’t even begin to anticipate.
However, do we think about the possibility of encountering God? It’s simple to believe that God exists and not too difficult to devote some time to Him on a regular basis (e.g. attending Church on weekends), but often it’s easy to think of God as “somewhere out there” and not fully present here with us.
The first time I remember “encountering” the word “encounter” in a Christian context was on my visit weekend to Conception Seminary College (where I am currently a senior) in my junior year of high school. The weekend was (and still is) titled, “Encounter With God’s Call,” and that’s definitely what happened to me! Much nervousness and anxiety preceded the visit, but through it I realized in a much deeper way that God had an incredible calling in my life and that He was removing fear from my heart, leaving me with peace and joy whenever I thought about Conception. More important than a call, I encountered God personally and in quite unexpected ways. (I’m sure more of this story will emerge in future posts).
Consider what Pope Francis says in the guiding quote of this blog: "I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day" (Evangelii Gaudium 2).
Often, we don’t think of God as someone to encounter, as a personal God. Yet, God is truly personal – in fact, three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Are we willing to be open?
- To have or experience (problems, difficulties, etc.)
- To meet (someone) without expecting or intending to
(Merriam-Webster online dictionary)
Think about how many different people and things we encounter in life: friends, strangers, teachers, new ideas, stores, websites, foods, drinks, weather, sports, surprises, tragedies, boredom, excitement, etc., etc. Essentially, just as life can be described as a search, it can also be described as encounter. We experience so many different things, often without expecting to. No matter how well we can plan our day, there are always new occurrences that we can’t even begin to anticipate.
However, do we think about the possibility of encountering God? It’s simple to believe that God exists and not too difficult to devote some time to Him on a regular basis (e.g. attending Church on weekends), but often it’s easy to think of God as “somewhere out there” and not fully present here with us.
The first time I remember “encountering” the word “encounter” in a Christian context was on my visit weekend to Conception Seminary College (where I am currently a senior) in my junior year of high school. The weekend was (and still is) titled, “Encounter With God’s Call,” and that’s definitely what happened to me! Much nervousness and anxiety preceded the visit, but through it I realized in a much deeper way that God had an incredible calling in my life and that He was removing fear from my heart, leaving me with peace and joy whenever I thought about Conception. More important than a call, I encountered God personally and in quite unexpected ways. (I’m sure more of this story will emerge in future posts).
Consider what Pope Francis says in the guiding quote of this blog: "I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day" (Evangelii Gaudium 2).
Often, we don’t think of God as someone to encounter, as a personal God. Yet, God is truly personal – in fact, three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Are we willing to be open?
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