The darkness of the night was struggling to give itself up to the dawn. Dark thunderclouds pushed the new light away. Lighting gave the scene a surreal feeling that was anything but the sense of peace and hope that comes with a new day. While one knew it was no longer night, it was hard to know exactly what it was now. I looked out the window, trusting instruments to affirm the facts my head knew as truth while everything said something different.
This was supposed to be a new day. Challenges were coming and I needed to be ready. It was a fresh playing field. I knew others were depending on me, even if they did not realize the moment was at hand.
In the quietness when one knew the storm was going to speak again, I wished out loud that someone knew I was preparing to go into battle. While I knew I was ready, I also wanted someone to go into the arena with me. My wish morphed into an accusation; “God, are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you?” (Psalm 10.1)
As the words drifted into silence, the lightening hit close by. The crack was sharp. It hit without consideration or mercy! The thunder that followed was almost instantaneous, so I knew I was close near the heart of this storm. What was I supposed to do with these metaphors? Is this anyway to start something?
As I freshened up and headed out my phone chirped, not once but twice.
“Good luck, my thoughts are with you.”
“You are a great fighter. I am sure you will do will.”
God never leaves us alone. We may not hear Divinity. I know struggle to see God. Life reminds me that God is in the small details – offering us opportunity with hope, understanding with compassion, and a listening ear with teaching. I may not always recognize or appreciate what God does. The good news is that God does what s/he does because of love. It is the ultimate source of Hope.
