I am writing this article two days after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. I've watched the television coverage of the destruction, the flooding, and the human suffering caused by this monster storm. I've also seen the outpouring of compassion from thousands of volunteers from all around the U.S. and the world. My heart is filled with grief and hope.

In times like these, people of faith are compelled to ask, "Where is God?"

This question causes me to recall the author Tom Bodett who once wrote about a group of people attentive to the world and the people around them. He gives the example of the woman in front of him at the grocery store checkout line with a cart full of groceries who noticed that he was purchasing only a pack of gum and invited him to go ahead of her. Bodett believes she is a member of the Group That Notices Things or GTNT. They are people with eyes, ears, and hearts open to notice that which goes unnoticed by most people. Their awareness of others around them causes them to act with simple compassion and kindness that is often surprising to those who benefit. And, sometimes, those who are helped become members of GTNT themselves.

The Holy Spirit equips Christians to be members of the GTNT. Following Jesus' teachings through acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion helps to open eyes, ears, and hearts to notice and respond to a broken, hurting world. Christians notice that God is at work in the world to forgive sins, heal broken bodies, lives, and relationships, and set people free for love and justice.

In the case of Hurricane Katrina, Christians who are members of the GTNT notice that God is in the hands and hearts working to comfort, feed, shelter, and heal those who have been broken by the hurricane. As they work with God, they share the good news of God's love for the world in Jesus Christ. They help those whose lives, homes, and families are broken to know that God loves them and that they have a place in God's household.

Faith that is given by the God whose name is Love awakens Christians to become members of GTNT. As they notice God in countless acts of compassion for the survivors of Katrina, they can then share their faith by helping those who are hurting to see how and where Christ is in their life and their world.

Becoming a member of GTNT is the first step toward living out the first part of the General Rule of Discipleship: Witness to Jesus Christ in the world…

Steven W. Manskar is the Director of Accountable Discipleship for the General Board of Discipleship. He may be reached at smanskar@gbod.org.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2005 issue of the Covenant Discipleship Quarterly. Copyright © 2005 General Board of Discipleship. Used with permission.


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