Mute Button

I took my walk in the afternoon today, and there seemed to be more cars than usual whizzing by. No sooner would one be gone than I'd hear another one coming. But suddenly, it was quiet - completely quiet.  The breeze was still, no cars coming or going; just the sound of my footsteps which seemed to be the only sound in that sudden silence. It was almost as if God had hit the mute button, and the quiet that descended felt like something I could touch. There wasn't another soul in sight. And I had to smile because it felt like God had stopped everything, and just put His focus on me for a few moments. I don't know why but for some reason I felt special because of that silence, and the only One I know who can make that kind of thing happen is God. And that is where I found Him today.

Second Try

It was a very stressful day, and to top it off my washing machine died in the middle of a load of laundry. I headed out on this frigid cold day to buy a new one. On my way home, I drove past a guy who was throwing a frisbee for his Boston Terrier. (He looked just like my dog Forrest except he had four good legs.) The dog went racing to catch the frisbee... and missed it. But did he care? NO!! He scooped it up and went tearing around the yard as happy as could be. That little guy really brightened my day. It was that whole "if at first you don't succeed make lemons out of lemonade tomorrow's another day hang in there" thing he had going on. And that's where I found God today. In that happy little dog racing around the yard with a frisbee he got on the second try.

Coffee Hour

Jeff and I hosted coffee hour at church today. We had coffee (of course), some home-baked goodies, and hot tea - our personal favorite. It's such a simple thing to share food and conversation with friends, and yet it's so fulfilling. It was a cold, grey, rainy day outside, but inside was a warmth and coziness that came more from fellowship than anything else. We've only been at All Saints a little over a year and a half, but we so cherish the friends we've made there. And it was among those dear friends that I found God today.

Loosen Up

I'm not a spontaneous person. I like to have my day planned out so I know exactly how things are going to go. So when Jeff and I left this morning, the plan was to go for tea, run an errand, and then go back to get some other things done. But as we were about to head home, I got a sudden urge to take a drive. Right on the heels of that was my thought that "No, you can't do that, it wasn't in the schedule." So I asked Jeff and of course he said to go for it. He's always been better at that stuff than me. You'd think I was planning to take off for the Bahamas or something when it was just a minor change in our day. So we blew off the schedule and drove around for a while. Creature of habit that I am, I do these things once in a while, but not nearly enough. And that little bit of release and freedom that I felt was a blessing. I think it's God nudging me to loosen up a little. He's right, of course, and that's where I found Him today.

Treasure Hunt

Like so many people, I love books - real books with paper pages. I love the feel of them, the different covers, the smell of them... Though I admit there are times when an electronic book can be convenient, they will never replace real books. Today, Jeff and I traveled to Chesapeake to the Barnes & Noble which is one of our favorite things to do. I get excited each time I turn down an aisle wondering what I will find. Each book holds the potential to sweep you away. As if by magic, they can completely transport you into another world. Some will succeed and some won't. But that treasure hunt is part of the fun. Browsing among those hundreds of books, thousands of pages, millions of words in search of that magical book - that is where I found God today.

The Dream

Ask anyone close to me and they'll tell you that I don't like to talk about dreams, but I have to talk about this one. First, I have to tell you that my mom has dementia. Sometimes she knows me; sometimes she doesn't. It's been years since there have been any gifts, surprises, phone calls, or any of the little things that moms do to make you feel loved and special. She's physically here, but mostly I think of her - my true mom - as being gone. And then I had this dream this morning right before I woke up. I've heard that this is when we're most in tune to God; most likely to hear him speak to us. I was cooking for some event - I don't know what it was - when everything on the stove started to boil over all at once. I was frantically turning off burners and moving pots around when I uncovered a dish, and I just collapsed into tears. It was a dish of banana pudding that my mom had made for me and hidden as a surprise. This is the kind of thing she used to do, and her banana pudding was my favorite. In my dream I thought, "My mom remembers me; she still loves me," and I just broke down sobbing. I awoke in the middle of those sobs still trying to catch my breath. I know God sent me that dream to tell me something I really needed to hear, and that is where I found Him today.

Golden Light

I usually try to take my daily walk first thing in the morning - literally, before the sunrise. Today, I started a little later than usual. The sun was already up and starting to light the tops of the trees. It slowly filled everything it touched with a warm, golden light. It's not that I haven't walked at this time of day before, but it struck me differently this morning. I imagined the sun was like God, slowly pouring out His blessings; and I watched as they trickled down and filled the world around me. The golden light touched and filled me, too, and that is where I found God today.