One day Beverly and I were strolling through a market when we found barrels of different kinds of coffee beans. Blended aromas filled the air. I breathed it all in said, Isn't this wonderful? Then I turned to see a rather startled lady not Beverly at all, who was elsewhere inspecting some of the coffee. The lady nervously nodded and hurried away.
I hate it when that happens. I'll be walking along and whoever I think I'm talking to has stopped or wandered in some other direction. Sometimes it's because I'm in my own little world. At other times it's because I have a bit of a hearing problem and don't realize the person is no longer there. Either way, I've had conversations with complete strangers, confused animals, and even once...a mannequin.
Sometimes it's like that in our relationship with God. We'll be walking along, lost in our own worlds, not really listening, and never notice that He stopped or changed directions, all the time expecting us to actually pay attention. It's hard to follow Him when we forget He's there.
That's amazing about Him. He's always with us. All we have to do is to turn back and look. He'll be there, patiently waiting...every single time. Most of us probably wouldn't do that. Think about it. You've tried for the millionth time to help someone. You've actually got the answer to the problem. But this person keeps wandering away -- not listening, not paying attention. Would you always be there?
Recently I was on Hilton Head Island for some much needed rest. One evening, our son Matt had gone for a walk on the beach and Beverly decided to catch up and join him. But after a while, I was concerned. The sun had set, clouds were rolling in, and it was getting darker by the second. So I took off after them.
I soon found Beverly. She had never reached Matt and was on her way back to where we were staying. Now I was really getting concerned. There would not be much light for long, especially with the clouds that now covered the sky. So I began to jog up the beach, eventually coming to a point where the island's coast took a sharp turn and the beach ended. But Matt was nowhere to be seen.
I didn't know it at the time, but he had returned by leaving the beach, cutting through private property, and walking along a public road. I, on the other hand, had shifted into panic mode as I turned back. And to make matters worse, it was now officially night. There was no moon, no stars...just a few random lights in the darkness. I couldn't even see the water of the ocean or the direction of the beach.
After stumbling along and once walking into the surf, I prayed for my son's safety and for some help to get me back. Just then some clouds parted and I could see Saturn brightly shining in a small patch of clear sky. It wasn't enough to light up the beach, but now I knew exactly where west was. All I had to do was keep that planet on my right shoulder.
After an hour, I had again found Beverly (who had become disoriented in the dark), and together we made our way back. Matt was there waiting. By the way, remember Saturn? As I finally reached the place where we were staying, the clouds once again closed and it was gone.
Jesus said that if we have faith...believe in Him, trust Him, follow Him...amazing things will happen, even moving the mountains in our lives (Matthew 17:20; 21:21). But beyond that, He promised, I am with you always (Matthew 28:20). Not may be or will be, but am.
What an amazing life we have when we remember God is with us.
