My morning began different than usual. I’m a morning person! But, this morning the fluffy blanket I was tucked under on my little makeshift floor bed felt way more appealing than cold feet on the bare floor and my warm skin hitting the cool air. The thought of creaking my way down the wooden stairs and out the door trying not to wake anyone up was not my first choice, but I knew I needed to go.
As I began my trek up the hill towards my “spot” I wondered to myself why the hike felt abnormally hard and tiring today. I had to stop a couple times just to catch my breathe until I finally made it to my quiet little prayer rock overlooking the mountains and valleys.
Lately, one of the first things I pray is for God to allow me to be aware of His Presence. A few days ago, as I was praying in the still of the morning I saw a plume of smoke blow through the grass in front of me. I got kind of scared because there was no fire around and it wasn’t a foggy morning. I had that feeling of sudden awareness as if my soul was called to attention.
Today, I believe the Lord answered in a different way. I didn’t feel the instant awe and connection with Him that I’ve experienced the past few mornings as I stare out from my perch at the incredible scenery, but I simply closed my eyes anyways and began to get lost in praying out loud.
Suddenly, I sensed another presence near me. I jumped as I opened my eyes and there was an old man standing behind me with a piece of wood slung over his shoulder and a small, rusty ax in his hand. I had never seen another person come up to that spot the last several days I’ve been going up there so I was a little taken aback.
For a moment we just stood staring at eachother and then he did something that surprised me. He set his lumber and axe down (as I breathed a little sigh of relief) and he came and plopped down right next to me in the dewy grass. I prayed a silent prayer for God to give me the words or show me what to do.
I gestured to him that I had been praying to God as I’m sure he had already seen. With the language barrier we couldn’t exchange many words, yet somehow we seemed to have a full conversation without them. He wrote down what I think is his name in my journal. He seemed very interested in my pencil pouch full of various writing utensils so I motioned that he could have one. He carefully selected a mechanical pencil. And, after testing it on the paper slipped it into his shirt pocket.
He was also curious about my bible. I showed him the childhood photo of my sister and I that is taped inside the front cover. When he realized it was me in the picture his face lit up with a big toothless grin. I held it to my heart and pointed up to the sky. I told him I love Jesus and then he held my hand. Even though I don’t think he could understand my words I prayed for him. We just sat there as strangers in comfortable silence until he slowly got up, patted me on the knee, slung the wood back over his shoulder and dissappeared down the path from which he came.
As I watched him leave my heart was beating fast. I felt like I had been visited by an angel or something. Even though he probably wasn’t an angel, it was a special encounter. I know the enemy tried preventing it with my not wanting to get out of bed and the mountain seeming extra hard to climb. I gained a new appreciation for the way God is constantly going before us and orchestrating our steps.
Thanks, Father for simple and peaceful moments shared between strangers. Thanks for the way you weave our lives together with people in ways we could never imagine. Thanks, God for giving us this month to spend hours on end basking in Your beautiful Presence, praying, and rejuvinating our souls. Thanks for mending parts of us we didn’t even know were torn. Your ways are a lovely mystery. Fill us with faith to live above the noise of this world.
Love, Jenna
