Angels, Glory, and Tropical Fish

This is the fish God showed me in the car, which is a crazy way to start a story, so let me back up. 

In 2012, shortly after Jesus re-captured my heart, I was obsessed with signs, miracles, and wonders. I'd grown up in a charismatic environment where weird things like healing, being "slain in the spirit" (code for falling over), and miraculous laughter were normal, even expected, as part of "Holy Spirit revival." And now I was involved with a group of friends pursuing even wilder things like gold dust, dissolving bone-screws, and visions of flaming angels. It was a fun time. 

During these early months, I devoted myself to learning how to hear God's voice. This seemed like the surest way to end up with a miracle (or so I thought). On this particular drive home, for whatever reason, I asked the Lord, "How's your day going?" 

Naturally, I expected to hear flattering things about myself, like, "Oh, just spending time with my favorite son today." But instead, I saw this picture in my mind of a really specific tropical fish, and the instructions to, "go home and find this fish." Strange, but okay. So I spent two hours googling tropical fish until I found it. Can you guess what the fish is called? No need; it's called a "flame angelfish." My stomach dropped. Immediately the Lord spoke, and said, "If you pursue relationship with me, instead of focusing on the miraculous, I will lead you to divine encounter."

As I've matured in the years since, I've grown far less interested in miracles (fun as they are) and far more interested in relationship, both with God and with people. I no longer chase signs, like angel feathers or gold teeth (yes, really). Instead, my life is devoted to growing in wisdom and compassion, so that I can become an effective servant in the body of Christ, with or without miracles. 

Because love is the divine encounter we really crave.