I have never seen Jesus in a piece of toast. I have made lots of toast. Presently, with my tomatoes springing-up, you would be forgiven in thinking that all I eat are tomatoes on toast. Despite the infinite loaves of toasted bread I never, not once, experience the visage of Jesus burnt into my bread. Nevertheless there have been sightings of Jesus appearing in burnt toast. As well as other religious moments. I seem to remember a woman in Florida who saw Jesus in a Horseshoe crab. To that I say “good for you.”

 

I have never put much stock in seeing Jesus in random places; I’m more of a cross kinda guy, myself. But for those who have laid eyes on the Holy Toasted Grains it was meaningful. How meaningful, I can’t say. I will note that I have never heard of anyone giving their life to Christ because the burn mark in their ironing board looked like Jesus. That’s probably not an accident. The giving of one's life, not the burn mark. Those who have found Jesus in overly cooked pancakes were looking for Jesus, or at least ready to see Him should He appear. And so when, in the stump of a fallen tree, a faithful person sees the face of the Virgin Mary I see a greater lesson. Not that no one ever sees the face of St. Peter or St. Paul, no. That we find what we’re looking for. 

 

When the religious faithful find the face of their Lord and savior in random places they show it to others. They share it and, sometimes, even those who aren’t looking for Jesus find Him. This is actually how we are to live. Not spreading peanut butter in hopes of a holy aberration. But in expectation that our Lord is active and spreading the good news that He loves us. He is taking part in our  lives and we can share that with others, who may not be looking or paying attention.

 

We will find what we are looking for. If we spend our life looking for leisure then we will forever be waiting for the weekend. If we want to be valued because we have better “toys” then we will be spying on what others are purchasing and meet, or exceed, those standards. If we want to be known as a great parent, we can even turn our family into an idol and seek validation next to playgrounds or in PTAs. 

 

Seeking Christ first means keeping Him in our minds daily. And having faith that when he said I will be with you always He meant it. And we can find Him, daily. In prayer. In devotions. When Jesus said He would be with us to the end, He meant it. Although, I don’t think he was referring to the heel of a loaf.