Turns

Journeys always have natural turning points.  I find that our preparation, anticipation, or even awareness rarely prepares us for what occurs when we arrive at the turn.  Often our response is simply a true reflection of our hearts and souls. 
For time, we have wandered through life and the God words of Isaiah.  The journey has, for me at least, been full of surprises.  I continue to find myself amazed at how blissfully ignorant individuals, myself included, have been of life's real issues.  It is as if we refuse to see, hear, or even feel what life is trying to teach us. We are increasingly numb, trying to connect in ways we know will never be successful. 
There has been a bigger surprise.  I see our God's intensity differently.  God is passionately angry when it comes to Evil.  God and Evil are at a war, with life itself at stake.  Often the battleground is your life and mine!  This is an ugly scene, especially when we willingly give our freedom over to Evil.  It is if Truth is fighting with Deception and we are on D's side.  The good news is the ultimate battle has already been won.  The bad news is that you and I have yet to decide where we truly stand.  We take one decision then another.  We move towards and then away.  We embrace yet still deny.
God is repeatedly torn by our moves.  In moments of extreme love a paradoxical action often causes us to reflect, unaware of the core issues.  God is honest in Divinity's desire to make us aware; “when I was angry I hit you hard.  It's my desire now to be tender.”  (Isaiah 60.10b)  The desire is always to restore, recreate, and give us truth.
Today is a turning point.  While it comes in each moment, we should never take it for granted.  Will you, I, turn toward God or away?  An old prophet posed this question a long time ago.  In this moment, it remains as the most important one you and I will ever answer.