“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message…that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” – John 17:20-23

“What if my hair was the same color as my skin, would I look like a potato?”

My children love to ask, “What if…?”  Whenever they pose such a hypothetical question I invite them to think it through.

“What do you have in common with a potato?  If people confused you for a potato what might happen?  How would you use your special potato camouflage powers?”

Recently, the UCC national office sent ministers a small book of, “What if?” questions.  The idea is to spark conversations among the congregation that inspire new ideas.  The book is for church communities that are looking for something more than recreating the past.  The booklet comes with one point of instruction.  “Talk to God about these questions (ie pray) before you talk to one another about it.”

Over the next several months these, “What if?” questions will appear throughout the Central Union Daily Devotional.  I invite us to ask prayerfully reflect on the question.  This can be as simple as asking God for wisdom and insight as you consider the question.  After you’ve given it some thought, I would love to hear what came up for you as you considered, “What if…?”

What if your longing to be with others when we were forced apart by COVID was a glimpse into how much God longs to be near to you?