Do You Hear or See a Band?

 I recently heard an interview on a radio talk show with Alex Van Halen, drummer for the 1980's-1990's rock band Van Halen. When I was in high school and the years directly following, I was a huge Van Halen fan. David Lee Roth's on-stage antics paired with the legendary electric guitar play of Alex's brother Eddie made Van Halen an instant hit with young people of the day. 

What stuck with me from that radio interview was a comment Alex Van Halen made about concerts in general. He said something like, "People don't attend a concert and say "I heard Van Halen in concert last night." Instead, the common statement goes more like, "I saw Van Halen in concert last night." From there he went on to point out the paradox in those two statements. Obviously, the music and vocals are what draws us to a song or band, yet when we go to their concert, it is more of the overall performance that created the sense of euphoria that Van Halen followers enjoyed for decades and still do today. What Alex Van Halen said almost made me feel like he was sharing a riddle, "What is it that you go to hear, but ultimately it is what you see that brings you back for more?" 

In comparison, our relationship with God isn't necessarily about "seeing" God, He is everywhere, but a true relationship with God is something that we experience with all of our senses even if we can't see God in person. We experience the joy of God by serving others and giving of ourselves for the benefit of someone other than ourselves. Jesus gave us the perfect example of this by washing the feet of His disciples in John 13:1-17. Jesus shared that by serving others before self is a sure way to receive a true blessing. In Psalm 34:8 we are told to "Come taste and see that the Lord is good", a true relationship with Christ engages all of our senses, so much so that the psalmist invites us to taste the goodness of God. Even if we can't see God in person today that does not mean we can't see God. As I stated above, God is omnipresent, He is everywhere you turn and He is in everything we taste, hear, smell, feel, and yes, even what we see. 

II Corinthians 4:18 tells us that we must "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Paul isn't telling us that we can't see God, did you catch his directive, "fix our eyes", Paul is telling us that we can see God in the unseen, the wind as it sways tree limbs back and forth in a storm. We can see God in the love we share with those who need it the most even when they deserve it the least. And we can see God in nature. Sunrises, sunsets, baby horses, and warm summer rains all share the beauty of God and His creation. 

God is alive. Don't ever think that if you can't see God in person then He must not be a real being. God is alive in you and in me. I see God in the smiles of those I love and I see God in the purpose He has given me to fulfill. If you can't see God and you question whether God is real or not, I invite you to come and taste and see, the God of all creation is here today. He was, He is, and God will forever be! 

Coach Carter