A fool sees not the same tree

that a wise man sees.

                          -- William Blake

Happy April Fool’s Day!

Did you know that being a fool for God is what brands us as spiritual directors? We are foolish enough to ask repeatedly,
“Where is God in this situation?”
“What is the sacred aspect of what is happening?”
“From a spiritual perspective, what’s going on?”
We are so foolish that even when we cannot easily see God, we keep looking for God’s fingerprints.

When the people we companion suffer from illness, lose their jobs, or find they are suddenly homeless – even when they don’t see how God could possibly be in their state of affairs – we don’t give up. We foolishly trust that God is present. Blindly sometimes, we compassionately encourage the people we companion to keep feeling around in the dark. Or to start sniffing around until they whiff God’s scent. We foolishly believe God’s presence will be palpable, knowable, and recognizable – if only a fleeting glimpse or scant scent. With foolish patience and sacred searching, we dare our spiritual companions to keep their eyes and hearts open for a peek at grace. With foolhardy ears, we keep listening.

Not only does this foolishness brand us as spiritual directors, it binds us. Together we foolishly trust that seeking God makes a difference not only in our own lives, but also in the lives of the people we serve. Boldly we believe that being fools for God contributes to peace and justice in our world, not only among people, but also for all creation. Humbly and gratefully we admit that God is in charge and worthy of our trust. How foolish is that!  

Liz Ellmann, MDiv